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On the way to the examination at Kobayashi Pharmaceutical in Osaka: employees of the Japanese Ministry of Health

Photo: Yohei Fukai / AP

An over-the-counter cholesterol-lowering drug based on red yeast rice is believed to have caused the deaths of five people in Japan. After Kobayashi Pharmaceutical reported a possible connection to the dietary supplement, health authorities raided a factory in Osaka.

Kenji Yamashita, head of the Osaka-based company's production department, apologized, according to local media reports, but declined to comment on details of the raid on the factory, which has been closed since December. Since the company has moved the production of the ingredients for the dietary supplements to a factory in the western prefecture of Wakayama, there is also a raid there.

Hundreds of people report health problems

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has so far reported five deaths and the hospitalization of more than 110 people. All of these cases are possibly related to the red yeast rice products. About 680 people had either seen a doctor about health problems or wanted to do so, it said.

The company had previously stated that puberulic acid, a natural compound from blue mold, had been detected in the ingredients of the dietary supplements and could be linked to the health problems, it said. The substance is an agent that, according to the Ministry of Health, can be toxic, the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported.

Government announces protective measures

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced possible protective measures "as soon as the cause is clarified." Kishida reprimanded the company, which first learned of health problems related to its red yeast rice products in January. The head of government said it should have turned to the government.

The government has commissioned other manufacturers to check their products. Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said other countries were also informed about the suspected problems with the products via the Japanese embassies.

Last week, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical recalled five products after people were hospitalized with kidney problems.

The recalled products all contain rice fermented with red mold. Red fermented rice - which should not be confused with red rice varieties - is used in East Asia to color foods such as salad dressings, bread and soy paste, but also as a medicine.

jpa/dpa/AFP