In Japan, the Ministry of Health has reported that 9 more people have been hospitalized after using beni-koji red yeast rice from pharmaceutical company Kobayashi. This brings the total number of affected patients to 166. The health status of these 9 individuals is currently unknown. The majority of previously hospitalized patients experienced symptoms such as irritability, loss of appetite, abnormal urine, and kidney disorders.
On April 3, the Japanese Ministry of Health urged 173 beni-koji distribution companies to monitor their customers for any health issues related to the product. Since March 27, Japan has reported 5 deaths linked to this functional food. Meanwhile, Taiwanese health authorities also reported 11 cases of health problems related to Kobayashi’s beni koji, with the possibility of widespread damage in the area.
Kobayashi launched the product “beni-koji choleste help” in February 2021 and sold about one million packs by the end of February this year. However, many users developed kidney disease later on. The company recently discovered puberulic acid, a natural compound derived from green mold, in the production of beni-koji which was identified by the Japanese Ministry of Health as a substance that can cause toxicity in users.
The Food Safety Department advised that these products have not been approved for circulation in Vietnam and warned against purchasing them from social networks or by hand. If these products are found on the market, the authorities should be notified for legal handling.
