At least 157 people were hospitalized in cases linked to Japanese dietary supplements that are at the center of growing health concern in the Asian country, a Health Ministry official reported Tuesday.
The figure reflects an increase in the 114 cases of hospitalizations that the company Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said Friday they were related to its products containing red yeast rice, or “beni koji.”
A spokeswoman for Kobayashi confirmed the latest internments without giving further details.
The company said Friday it is investigating five deaths possibly linked to products that supposedly help lower cholesterol.
The government and the company are investigating whether the products caused the deaths and health problems, especially kidney problems.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical announced on March 22 that it was recalling three ranges of products containing “beni koji” after several customers reported kidney problems.
Red yeast rice consists of rice fermented with a mold culture and has been used in foods, alcoholic beverages, and traditional medicines in East Asia.
Kobayashi said it detected a potentially toxic acid produced by mold in one of its plants.
The company said it has sold red rice yeast to about 50 firms in Japan and two in Taiwan.
Source: Gestion
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