Japan’s Health Food Industry Faces Backlash after Recall of Supplements Linked to Five Deaths

In Japan, a line of health supplements has been recalled after more than 100 people were hospitalized and five people have died in the past week. The Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. faced criticism for not disclosing internal problems related to the supplements earlier. Issues with the products were known as early as January, but the announcement was not made until March 22.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical revealed that 114 people were being treated in hospitals for health issues after consuming products containing benikoji, a red mold species. Some of the affected individuals developed kidney problems, but the exact cause is still being investigated with government laboratories. President Akihiro Kobayashi issued a deep apology to those affected, their families, and the entire health food industry and medical profession.

Following the recall of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s products, several other items containing benikoji have also been pulled from shelves, including miso paste, crackers, and a vinegar dressing. Japan’s health ministry released a list of all the recalled products, warning that the number of deaths could increase. The supplements were available for purchase without a prescription and may have been bought or exported before the recall was initiated.

Analysts attribute the issue to recent deregulation initiatives aimed at accelerating approval for health products to boost economic growth. Despite this setback, it is hoped that Japan’s health food industry will learn from this incident and take steps to ensure consumer safety in future product development efforts.