Category: Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.

Japan’s Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. said Friday that it has failed to report to the health ministry some products containing its “beni koji” red fermented rice that were supplied to five companies. According to the ministry, none of the five companies’ products are marketed any longer. The ministry asked Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to report by Wednesday whether there are any beni koji-containing products subject to the reporting other than those of the five companies.

The number of deaths under investigation over possible links to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.’s supplements containing “beni koji” red fermented rice reached 97, Japan’s health ministry said Monday. 

The number of fatal cases under investigation over possible links to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.’s supplements containing “beni koji” red fermented rice has reached 81, Japan’s health ministry said Friday.

A Japanese government panel is reviewing the system allowing food products to be labeled as having specific health benefits, in the wake of deaths and hospitalizations of users of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.’s dietary supplements containing “beni koji” red yeast rice.

The health ministry and the National Institute of Health Sciences said on the day that at least two compounds not normally found in the supplements were detected in an analysis of ingredient samples.