In Japan, health officials have conducted a raid on a factory that produces health supplements, following reports of the supplements causing the deaths of at least five individuals and leaving over 100 others hospitalized. The factory in question belongs to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. in Osaka, and the raid was caught on camera and broadcasted on Japanese TV news.
The supplements being investigated contain “benikoji,” a type of red mold, and the specific cause of the illnesses, including kidney failure, is still under investigation. The supplements marketed under the name Benikoji Choleste Help were meant to assist in lowering cholesterol levels and had been on the market for the past three fiscal years. Along with being sold under their own label, the company also supplied benikoji to other manufacturers, some of which exported products containing the mold.
Reports of health issues related to these supplements first emerged in 2023, although benikoji has been used in various products for many years. The president of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, Akihiro Kobayashi, publicly apologized for the delay in responding to the issue, with a recall being issued two months after official reports about the problem were received. The company confirmed that five deaths and 114 hospitalizations were linked to the supplements.
The crisis has raised concerns about recent deregulation initiatives aimed at streamlining approval processes for health products to boost economic growth. While Japan has strict regulations in place for consumer products, instances of mass-produced items causing deaths are rare. The government has ordered a review of the approval system in response to this incident, with a report expected in May.
