“Japanese Firm Probes 76 More Deaths in Supplement Scare”, Japanese health supplement maker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said on Friday it was probing 76 more deaths possibly linked to its tablets containing red yeast rice
It deepens a scandal that erupted earlier this year when the company said it was probing five deaths potentially linked to the over-the-counter products after dozens of customers reported kidney problems.
“Even if the direct cause of hospitalisation or death was not kidney-related disease, it has become clear that there are a variety of cases, including cases in which beni koji-related products may have caused harm somehow and had some indirect impact,” Kobayashi said in a statement.
Of the five initial deaths under investigation, the company said it now knows one did not consume red yeast rice.
“We have received 1,656 inquiries from individuals who have sought medical attention, and have 76 cases under investigation over (a causal) connection to the deaths”, in addition to the original four, it said.
On Mar 22, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said it was recalling three kinds of tablets containing beni koji.
It later said it had detected a potentially toxic acid produced by the mould at one of its factories, and government officials inspected the firm’s facilities.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is a household name in Japan, offering a wide range of health-related products, and the scandal has been top news in the country.
On Friday, Kobayashi said it was yet to identify the exact cause and scope of the health damage – including whether organs other than kidneys were harmed.
Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Friday that the health ministry had previously ordered the company to file a daily report on its probe and demanded more details earlier this month after the number of deaths under investigation didn’t change.
