Japan’s Food Safety Department Denies Issuing Certification for Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company’s Red Yeast Rice Product Linked to 5 Deaths

In Japan, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) has confirmed that it did not issue a circulation license for Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company’s red yeast rice product, which has been linked to 5 deaths. According to a representative from the department, information about the company recalling several products after causing deaths and hospitalizations in Japan is false.

The department has not issued a certificate of registration or compliance for products such as Beni-koji choleste-help, Naishi-help plus cholesterol, Natto-kinase sarasara-tsubu gold, and Kobayashi Naishi Help 30 from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company. These products were recalled by the company in March due to hospitalizations associated with their use. The department urged consumers not to buy or use these products and to report any sightings on the market to the authorities.

According to Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare officials, an increase in hospitalizations and deaths related to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company’s products was reported by the end of March with 157 people hospitalized and 5 deaths. The company found puberulic acid, a natural compound from green mold, in the production of Beni-koji which can be toxic to users. The investigation into this case is still ongoing.

There have been no reports linking other unrelated websites or products mentioned in the original content to this information about Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company’s product recall and the Food Safety Department’s response in Japan.