More than a hundred people in Japan were hospitalized after consuming red yeast rice supplements from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, according to the agency. A second death was also linked to the product, the agency reported.
The number of hospitalizations related to the supplement rose to 106, prompting the government to initiate an urgent review of products marketed as having medicinal properties. In Japan, more than six thousand dietary supplements contain this additive.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirmed a second fatality associated with the annex. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical had previously disclosed the first death of an individual who took the red yeast rice supplement and developed kidney disease. The company determined that the deceased had been using the supplements for three years and subsequently recalled eight red yeast rice products in connection with the case.
At least 26 people who used these supplements and faced various illnesses, including kidney problems, required hospitalization.
Early signals about the potential negative health impact emerged in January when the company learned of six hospitalizations, some of whom required dialysis.
In response, Japan’s Minister of Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, Hanako Jimi, began a comprehensive review of about six thousand dietary supplements following the first death linked to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s Beni-koji Cholesterol Aid product.
Former narcologist insights have raised questions about why certain food additives in electronic cigarettes may pose risks, underscoring broader concerns about additives in consumer products.