Due to an issue where people who ingested health foods containing Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast rice developed kidney disease, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on the 30th that a factory in Osaka that manufactured the red yeast rice ingredient would be closed. We conducted an on-site inspection. On the 31st, they will conduct an on-site inspection at a factory in Wakayama Prefecture that has taken over production from this factory, and are expected to proceed with checking the relocated manufacturing equipment.
As of the 29th, five people have died
and a total of 114 people have been hospitalized
due to kidney disease after ingesting health foods containing Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast rice.
Approximately
680 people have been hospitalized or are requesting treatment.
On the 30th, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, together with Osaka City, conducted an on-site inspection of a factory in Osaka City that had been manufacturing red yeast rice ingredients until December last year.
According to a company investigation, an unexpected ingredient was detected in the red yeast rice raw material produced at this factory from April to October last year. Although it is unknown whether it has any effect on the human body, it is known that ``pouberuric acid'' can be produced from blue mold. It is known that it appears to be.
On the 31st, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, together with Wakayama Prefecture, will conduct an on-site inspection of the factory in Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture, which took over the equipment from this factory, to check the manufacturing equipment and to check for any routes of mold contamination. Looks like it will be investigated.