Japanese Health Officials Raid Supplement Maker Linked To Deaths

Japanese health officials raided a factory in Osaka owned by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical after the drugmaker reported a fifth death that was likely linked to its supplements made using red yeast rice or “Benji Koji” and advertised as helping to lower cholesterol.

The supplements were commercially available in pharmacies and people didn’t need a prescription to purchase them. According to the company’s president Akihiro Kobayashi, over a million packages were sold in the past three fiscal years. The company also sold “Benji Koji” to other manufacturers and some products were exported to Taiwan, China, and probably elsewhere. 

On Saturday, March 30, 2024, health officials from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare inspected the factory in the company of the City of Osaka local authorities. The factory was behind the manufacture of the supplement using the red yeast rice believed to have caused the health damage. 

On Friday Kobayashi reported that five people have died and another 114 were receiving treatments in hospitals after taking the red yeast products. Japan’s Ministry of Health said the supplement was directly responsible for the deaths and hospitalizations and warned that the number of victims may increase as more people have likely taken the product.

The exact cause of the deaths and hospitalizations is still unknown

Kobayashi said it has yet to pinpoint the exact cause of the illnesses, which includes kidney failure. The supplement maker has already launched an investigation into the products in collaboration with government health authorities. The company has now recalled the affected products. 

A recent video that surfaced on the Internet showed officials entering the factory. According to the ministry, other related locations could also be searched. Japanese media reported that the factory made the product until December last year when it was closed because of ageing facilities.

“Beni Koji” has been used in various products for many years and contains Monascus purpureus, a red mold also exploited as a coloring agent in certain foods. Puberulic acid, a potentially toxic but potent antimalarial and antibacterial agent product by blue mold was found in a batch of the products that cause the ailments, according to Japanese media. However, health problems concerning the product under investigation started surfacing in 2023.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical was criticized for not acting faster

The company recalled the products on March 22, around two months after it received an official medical report about the problem. Akihiro Kobayashi has tendered an apology for not acting faster. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi criticized the supplement maker for not acting fast enough saying it was sad that Kobayashi waited for two months before announcing the health impacts of its products.

Following the incident, the Japanese government has ordered a review of the country’s approval system for health products. A detailed report is expected sometime in May. According to Japanese media, a case of acute renal failure was also reported in Taiwan. As a precaution, a Chinese consumer association has asked consumers to quit using the affected products.