Fatal Case Reported Among Kobayashi Supplement Users

From Jiji

March 26 2024

OSAKA – A consumer who was continuously buying a supplement containing “beni koji” red fermented rice made by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. has died of kidney disease, the Japanese company said Tuesday.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is investigating the possible link between the intake of the supplement and the death of the user following a report of the fatal case from the bereaved family. 

The company, based in the western city of Osaka, also said that it has received about 50 more reports of hospitalization after the use of its supplements. 

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical did not disclose the sex or age of the deceased user, saying that it is checking details.

The user in question bought the supplement for nearly three years from April 2021 to February this year. Company officials are set to meet with the bereaved family Tuesday to ask about details.