TOKYO. Japanese health officials conducted a search at a Kobayashi Pharmaceutical factory in Osaka on Saturday following reports of five deaths possibly linked to dietary supplements containing red yeast rice, an official disclosed.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, in collaboration with the City of Osaka, undertook the inspection at the factory responsible for manufacturing supplements containing “Beni-Koji” red yeast, suspected of causing adverse health effects, the ministry official stated.
Footage from news broadcasts depicted officials entering the factory premises, with indications that the ministry may extend its search to other associated sites. The factory, which ceased production in December due to aging infrastructure, had been the subject of closure, as reported by Japanese media.
Efforts to reach representatives of the Osaka-based company for comment were unsuccessful. Yuko Tomiyama, head of Kobayashi’s investor relations, conveyed to public broadcaster NHK the company’s commitment to addressing the issue earnestly and cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.
Kobayashi disclosed on Friday its investigation into a possible correlation between the supplements and kidney-related health issues following reports of renal ailments associated with their consumption.
According to the company, as of Thursday evening, 114 individuals had been hospitalized and five fatalities recorded after using the supplements, which were marketed for their purported ability to reduce cholesterol levels.
Kobayashi indicated it is assessing the financial implications of the recent developments.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s delayed response, noting on Tuesday that it was regrettable for Kobayashi to take two months before disclosing the health impacts of its products.
In response to reports of kidney problems, the company initiated a recall of products containing Beni-Koji in recent days. These products are also distributed in markets such as China, where a case of acute renal failure linked to Kobayashi products was reported in Taiwan, according to Japanese media.
A Chinese consumer association advised individuals to refrain from using affected products, citing concerns about the potential risks associated with Kobayashi’s products, state media reported on Friday.
Beni-Koji, which contains Monascus purpureus, a red mold utilized as a coloring agent in certain foods, was found to contain puberulic acid, a potent antibacterial and antimalarial compound derived from blue mold that can be toxic, in a batch of the products implicated in health complaints, Japanese media disclosed.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
