Japanese Government health officials have launched investigations and carried out inspections on factories producing health supplements linked to at least five deaths and the hospitalisation of more than 100 others.
The authorities raided a plant operated by the Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company’s subsidiary in Kinokawa, in the prefecture of Wakayama.
The Wakayama plant took over the production of the supplements after Kobayashi Pharmaceutical closed another plant in nearby Osaka, which authorities searched on Saturday.
The company told AP little was known about the exact cause of the sicknesses, which include kidney failure.
The supplements being investigated all used “benikoji”, a kind of red mould, including Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals’ pink pills called Benikoji Choleste Help, which claim to lower cholesterol levels.
Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said about 1m packages had been sold over the past three fiscal years. It also sold benikoji to other manufacturers, and some products have been exported. The supplements are sold over the counter.
Reports of health problems surfaced in 2023, although benikoji has been used in various products for years.
The recall – on 22 March – came two months after the company had received official medical reports about the problem. Company president Akihiro Kobayashi has apologised for not having acted sooner.
Japan’s Health Ministry says the supplements could be responsible for the deaths and illnesses, and warned that the number of those affected could grow. The government has ordered a review of the approval system in response to the illnesses.
Some analysts blame the recent deregulation initiatives, which simplified and sped up approval for health products to spur economic growth. Deaths from a mass-produced item are rare in Japan, as government checks over consumer products are relatively stringent.
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