A Japanese pharmaceutical company, embroiled in a deepening health crisis surrounding its dietary supplements, disclosed two more fatalities possibly linked to its tablets on Thursday.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, which initiated a recall of three supplement brands last week—namely “Beni Koji Choleste Help” and two others—following reports of kidney issues from consumers, confirmed the involvement of its products in two additional deaths.
The recalled over-the-counter supplements feature an ingredient known as red yeast rice, or “beni koji,” purportedly aiding in cholesterol reduction.
With Thursday’s announcement, the total number of deaths under scrutiny by both the company and the health ministry has risen to four, with over 100 other individuals hospitalized.
“We were informed by a grieving family yesterday about the demise of an individual who had been using Choleste Help due to kidney disease,” Kobayashi Pharmaceutical stated.
Another death involving a person who had consumed Choleste Help in recent years was separately reported to the company.
“We are presently verifying the details and causal relationships in both cases,” the statement emphasized. “Nevertheless, we opted to publicize this report promptly.”
While medical research touts red yeast rice as a statin alternative for lowering cholesterol, concerns about potential organ damage have been raised, contingent on its chemical composition.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, headquartered in Osaka, markets a diverse array of health products, extensively advertised through television campaigns in Japan.
Furthermore, the company has supplied red yeast rice to approximately 50 other domestic firms and two in Taiwan.
Government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi reassured that authorities are diligently working to ensure food safety, identifying the substance responsible for the health issues and its inadvertent inclusion in the product.
Numerous health-food manufacturers have been instructed to review their products, with Japan’s embassies disseminating information to foreign countries regarding the matter.
Several Japanese companies utilizing beni koji supplied by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical have also independently announced product recalls.
Affected products span health tablets, along with a rose-colored sparkling sake, salad dressing, bread, and miso paste commonly featured in traditional cuisine.
While Kobayashi Pharmaceutical acknowledged the possibility of unintended ingredients in its products through analysis, it assured the absence of citrinin, a toxic byproduct of red yeast rice known to harm the kidneys.
