Supplement Scandal: Japanese Health Officials Raid Factory after Deaths Linked to Red Mold-Laced Supplements

Japanese health officials raided a factory that produces health supplements after reports emerged of the supplements causing the deaths of at least five individuals and leaving over 100 others hospitalized. The factory belongs to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. in Osaka, and the raid was captured on camera and broadcasted on Japanese TV news.

The supplements in question contain “benikoji,” a type of red mold, and the specific cause of the illnesses is still under investigation. The supplements were marketed under the name Benikoji Choleste Help and were meant to assist in lowering cholesterol levels. They had been on the market for the past three fiscal years, with Kobayashi Pharmaceutical also supplying benikoji to other manufacturers, some of which exported products containing the mold.

Reports of health issues related to these supplements first emerged in 2023, although benikoji has been used in various products for many years. The president of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, Akihiro Kobayashi, publicly apologized for the delay in responding to the issue, with a recall being issued two months after official reports about the problem were received. The company confirmed that five deaths and 114 hospitalizations were linked to the supplements.

There are concerns that recent deregulation initiatives aimed at streamlining approval processes for health products may have contributed to this crisis. While Japan has strict regulations in place for consumer products, instances of mass-produced items causing deaths are rare. The government has ordered a review of the approval system in response to this incident, with a report expected in May.