In response to the issue of people developing kidney disease after ingesting health foods containing Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast rice, Mayor Yokoyama of Osaka City announced on the 3rd that he had formed a task force consisting of the mayor and other city executives. The company announced that it would establish an investigation team and work to investigate the cause.
At a regular press conference held on the 1st, Mayor Yokoyama of Osaka City spoke on the 3rd about the issue of kidney disease among people who ingested health foods containing Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast rice. They announced that they would set up a task force consisting of about eight people, including the mayor, city executives, and experts from research institutions, and would hold an initial meeting.
The task force set up an investigation team consisting of more than 10 people, including city public health center staff and food sanitation inspectors from Osaka Prefecture, and the city ordered the company to recall the products in March based on the Food Sanitation Act. The plan is to investigate the recall status, health hazards, and cause of the three types of products.
Mayor Yokoyama said, ``It is important to dispel consumer concerns and respond appropriately.We need to quickly find out what kind of trouble occurred during the manufacturing process.We will put effort into investigating the cause. I would like to discuss the appropriate dissemination of information with the government."
Mayor Yokoyama also announced on March 30 that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the city had conducted an on-site inspection of a factory in Osaka City that manufactured red yeast rice ingredients, confirming the environment of the manufacturing site and manufacturing records. He then stated, ``Currently, we are not in a position to understand the irregularities or causes of the manufacturing process.''