Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is under scrutiny after the unintended substance \"puberulic acid\" was detected in its popular red yeast rice dietary supplement, \"beni-koji.\" The revelation came from Japan's health ministry during a panel of experts in Osaka on Thursday.
Puberulic acid, derived from blue mold and known for its antimalarial properties, was identified in a batch of supplements linked to serious health issues. As of Friday, the contaminated products have been associated with five deaths and over 100 hospitalizations. Additionally, nearly 700 individuals have sought medical advice or are planning to do so.
The affected consumers are predominantly aged between 40 to 70 years old, while the fatalities range from 70 to over 90 years old. The health ministry highlighted that the full extent of the health risks, including potential kidney damage, from ingesting puberulic acid remains unclear.
The specific product implicated is \"beni-koji choleste help,\" granules advertised to lower cholesterol levels, manufactured at Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's Osaka facility. Although the contamination quantity is not substantial, the company exports some of its products to international markets.
Akihiro Kobayashi, president and chief operating officer of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, addressed the issue during a press conference in Osaka on Friday. He assured that there will be no differentiation in compensation for consumers domestically and abroad once the causal relationship is established.
Previously, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical had initiated recalls of several products manufactured between April and December last year upon receiving reports of illnesses potentially linked to mold-derived substances. The exact mechanism by which puberulic acid entered the product remains under investigation by both the health ministry and the company.
Reference(s):
Unintended substance found in Kobayashi Pharma's supplements in Japan
cgtn.com
