Japanese firm’s red yeast rice product warning
JAPANESE drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is warning customers who have purchased its supplement product containing “beni-koji,” or red yeast rice, on Chinese e-commerce platforms not to use it and offering refunds, after the supplement led to 26 hospitalizations and one fatality.
The Osaka-based pharmaceutical giant yesterday disclosed that one person has died after taking its red yeast rice products, raising concerns about potential health hazards associated with the ingredient.
The deceased, who suffered kidney damage, is believed to have consumed a supplement product containing yeast-fermented rice produced by the firm for approximately three years, according to the latest announcement of the company, which is currently investigating the link between their product and the reported fatality, while urging consumers to cease the use of the affected products.
The announcement came amidst a series of health issues reported by individuals who have consumed health foods containing beni-koji ingredients similar to those found in Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s products.
The voluntary recall of products containing Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s beni-koji as an ingredient has now expanded nationwide, affecting various food items and seasonings, as latest reports showed that the company supplied this ingredient to 52 food manufacturers, including some wholesalers, suggesting that the actual number of affected companies could be even higher.
Currently, the recalled red yeast rice products of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical have been removed by main Chinese e-commerce platforms. The firm is offering refunds for customers who purchased the products on its official online stores on Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduo.
With applications ranging from coloring to flavor enhancement, yeast-fermented rice is incorporated into a wide array of products.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical revealed last Friday that individuals who had consumed its beni-koji supplements manufactured in-house had been diagnosed with kidney disorders. It also acknowledged distributing the same ingredient to external entities and requested those suppliers implement voluntary recalls.
The number of people hospitalized had risen to 26 for health damage after ingesting related supplement products as of Monday, it said.