Kobayashi Pharmaceutical warns customers not to take red yeast rice products

Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is warning customers who have purchased its supplement product containing "beni-koji," or red yeast rice, on Chinese e-commerce platforms not to use it and offering refunds, after the supplement led to 26 hospitalizations and one fatality.

The Osaka-based pharmaceutical giant on Tuesday disclosed that one person has died after taking their red yeast rice products, raising concerns about potential health hazards associated with the ingredient.

The deceased, who suffered kidney damage, is believed to have consumed a supplement product containing yeast-fermented rice produced by the company for approximately three years, according to the latest announcement of the company, which is currently investigating the link between their product and the reported fatality, while urging consumers to cease the use of the affected products.

The announcement came amidst a series of health issues reported by individuals who have consumed health foods containing beni-koji ingredients similar to those found in Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's products.

The voluntary recall of products containing Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's beni-koji as an ingredient has now expanded nationwide, affecting various food items and seasonings, as the latest reports showed that the company supplied this ingredient to 52 food manufacturers, including some wholesalers, suggesting that the actual number of affected companies could be even higher.

Currently, the recalled red yeast rice products of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical have been taken off the list on main Chinese e-commerce platforms. The company is offering refunds for customers who purchased the products on its official online stores on three major Chinese e-commerce platforms, namely Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduo.

With applications ranging from coloring to flavor enhancement, yeast-fermented rice is commonly incorporated into a wide array of products.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical revealed last Friday that individuals who had consumed their beni-koji supplements manufactured in-house had been diagnosed with kidney disorders. They also acknowledged distributing the same ingredient to external entities and requested those suppliers implement voluntary recalls.

The number of people hospitalized had risen to 26 for health damage after ingesting related supplement products as of Monday, according to the company.

The Osaka-based pharmaceutical giant reported six hospitalized cases of kidney damage and other health problems following intake of the yeast-fermented rice products last Friday, raising fears of health risks associated with the product.

As of Tuesday, recalls have been announced by multiple food manufacturers, including a local miso paste producer, a tofu product maker, and a Japanese sake maker.

Of the 18.5 tons of beni-koji raw material manufactured by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical in 2023, approximately 16.1 tons were sold to external parties. The company is currently considering compensation for the affected suppliers who have been asked to conduct voluntary recalls, according to local media reports.