In Osaka, Japan, a factory producing health supplements that have been linked to the deaths of five people and the hospitalization of over 100 others was raided by health officials. The Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. plant was the target of the raid, which was televised on Japanese news channels.
The supplements in question contained a red mold called “benikoji,” and were marketed as helping to lower cholesterol levels. Over the past three years, the company has sold about a million packages of these supplements both domestically and internationally, with no prescription needed for purchase at drug stores.
However, reports of health issues related to the supplements began surfacing in 2023, and it wasn’t until two months later that the company finally took action by issuing a recall. The president of the company has since apologized for the delay in taking action.
The Japanese health ministry has confirmed that the supplements are responsible for the deaths and illnesses, and the number of affected individuals may continue to rise. The government is now reviewing its approval system for health products in response to this incident, with a report expected in May.
This case has raised concerns about recent deregulation initiatives aimed at promoting economic growth in Japan. While government checks on consumer products are usually stringent, deaths from mass-produced items are rare in the country. The investigation into the exact cause of the sicknesses is ongoing, and authorities are working to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
