TOKYO (AP) — Five people have died and more than 100 have been hospitalized as of Friday, a week after a recall of Japanese health supplement products began.
Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical was criticized for not disclosing the problem promptly even though it was aware of the problem internally in January. The first announcement was made on March 22nd.
According to company officials, 114 people are receiving treatment at hospitals after ingesting products such as “Red Yeast Choleste Help,'' a product aimed at lowering cholesterol that contains an ingredient called red koji, a type of red mold. . at the beginning of the weekthe death toll was 2.
The manufacturer says some people have developed kidney problems after taking the supplement, but the exact cause is still being investigated in collaboration with government research institutes.
“We deeply apologize,” President Akihiro Kobayashi told reporters on Friday, emphasizing his apology by bowing his head for a long time along with three other executives.
He expressed his regrets to those who died or fell ill and their families. He also apologized to the entire health food industry and medical professionals for the great inconvenience caused, and added that he would work to prevent further damage and strengthen crisis management.
The company's products have been recalled, as have dozens of other products containing red yeast rice, including miso, crackers and vinegar dressings. Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare posted a list of recalled products on its official website, including products that use red yeast rice as a food coloring agent.
The ministry warned that the death toll could continue to rise. These supplements can be purchased at drugstores without a doctor's prescription, and some may have been purchased or exported before the recall, including by tourists who were unaware of the health risks.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has been selling Benikoji products for many years, selling 1 million packages in the past three fiscal years, but a problem crept into the supplement that will be produced in 2023. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical announced that it produced 18.5 tons of red mallow last year.
Some analysts blame recent deregulatory efforts that have simplified and sped up approval of health products to promote economic growth.
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Yuri Kageyama is in X: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
