A prominent Japanese pharmaceutical company is currently investigating a death and numerous hospitalizations that may be associated with its red yeast rice pills.
According to the company, at least 76 individuals were hospitalized after consuming the beni kōji fermented rice products.
This development comes after Kobayashi Pharmaceutical issued a voluntary recall of five products last week.
The company has advised customers to discontinue using the pills, which were marketed as supplements for lowering cholesterol.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical suspects that the issue could stem from previously undetected toxic substances present in the moulds used during production.
Beni kōji is rice fermented with monascus purpureus, a type of reddish-purple mould.
Although it is promoted as a health supplement for conditions like high cholesterol and blood pressure, it is also commonly used as a traditional food colouring agent.
In a recent statement, the company acknowledged a “causal relationship” between its Red Yeast Cholesterol Help product and the reported death.
The deceased had reportedly been using the product for three years and had a history of kidney disease.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical expressed regret over the situation and emphasized its commitment to customer health.
Affected individuals reported symptoms such as urine colour changes, limb swelling, and fatigue.
The company initiated an investigation following reports from a doctor in January and has set up a hotline for customer inquiries.
The Red Yeast Cholesterol Help product was introduced in February 2021 and has since sold over a million packets, according to Japanese media reports.
The company has also supplied beni kōji as a food ingredient to various food and beverage manufacturers worldwide and issued warnings to these companies last week.
While no other illnesses have been reported by customers of these companies, Takara Shuzo Co, a major beverage maker, announced a recall of a sparkling sake product coloured with the supplied beni kōji as a precautionary measure.
Source-BBC
