Kobayashi Pharmaceutical reported the problem to an outside director about the issue of people who ingested health foods containing Kobayashi's red yeast rice. The company is investigating the possibility that this may have been the cause.
It took more than two months for the company to publicize the problem and begin the voluntary recall. Five deaths and a total of 177 hospitalizations have been linked to the problem since January 15th of this year, when the first case of kidney disease was reported. The report was made to the directors on March 22nd, the same day the announcement was made.