Japanese pharmaceutical company Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has attracted attention due to health problems arising from the red yeast ingredient health products produced by the company. 1 person died and 50 people were hospitalized after taking the company’s health products containing red yeast rice ingredients.
The company said that red yeast Rice is a raw material produced by mixing steamed rice with Monascus bacteria and fermenting it. The specific nature of this ingredient and its correlation with kidney disease and other problems have not yet been determined. Some affected products are sold to mainland China through cross-border channels.