(Update) Health Damage from Supplement Ingredient Spreads in Japan

From Jiji

March 25 2024

OSAKA – The number of health damage reports due to taking “beni koji” red fermented rice made by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. has increased to 33, the Japanese company said Monday.

On top of already announced 13 people who suffered kidney problems after taking supplements containing the yeast rice in question, 20 takers of such health food products were found to have been hospitalized, it said, adding that some of 26 people taken to hospital in total have already been discharged.

Since unveiling on Friday the health hazard potentially caused by beni koji, which has also been supplied to food makers, and announcing a voluntary recall plan affecting some 300,000 packs of supplements, the Osaka-based health care maker has received numerous phone calls from customers. It has also urged client firms to stop using the ingredient and recall affected products.

The possibility cannot be ruled out that many more people will complain of health problems, observers said.

In 2023, Kobayashi produced a total of 18.5 tons of beni koji, believed to be effective for lowering bad cholesterol. Of the total, 2.4 tons were used for its own products and 16.1 tons were sold to 52 client companies.