The supplement can be purchased at pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription, and the key ingredients have been used in parts of Asia since ancient times.
Friday 29 March 2024 14:17, UK
Five people have died and more than 100 are being treated in hospitals after consuming a Japanese dietary supplement that has now been recalled.
These supplements, including those aimed at lowering cholesterol, contain a rice fermentation product called red yeast rice, which is thought to cause kidney problems in some people.
The exact cause of death is still under investigation, but JapanThe Ministry of Health warned that the death toll could continue to rise.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, which makes the product, apologized on Friday and expressed regret for those who died or became ill.
Company officials said a total of 114 people were receiving treatment at hospitals, but Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun later reported that the number was revised to 93.
In addition to recalling its products, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said other products containing red yeast rice (miso, crackers, vinegar dressings, etc.) were also recalled, some of which contain the mold as a food coloring agent. .
The Osaka-based company has come under increasing pressure for not warning the public quickly enough after learning of problems with some of its products in January.
The company first announced the product on March 22nd.
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Supplements can be purchased at pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription.
The Ministry of Health warned that some products may have been purchased or exported before the recall, including by tourists who were unaware of the health risks.
The president of the pharmaceutical company, Akihiro Kobayashi, also apologized for the great inconvenience caused to the entire health food industry and medical professionals.
He said the company is working to prevent further damage and improve crisis management.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has been selling red yeast rice products for many years and has sold 1 million packs in the past three fiscal years.
According to the Mainichi Shimbun, 18.5 tons of red yeast rice was produced in 2023 alone and supplied to a total of 173 companies.
Red koji is made by mixing a type of red-purple mold with rice. According to the National Library of Medicine, it has been used as a food ingredient in Taiwan and China since ancient times.
