As many as 80 deaths in Japan are being investigated for suspected links to a dietary supplement containing red rice that was stopped earlier this year.
The large company Kobayashi recalled three of its products containing beni koji, a fermented red rice marketed as a prescription-free and cholesterol-lowering dietary supplement, in mid-March.
The company has so far received 1,656 reports from people who claim to have required medical attention after consuming its products. An additional 76 deaths are being investigated to determine if there is any causal link.
Potentially toxic gas formation has been detected in mold cultures used at one of the company's facilities.
"Although kidney-related illness was not directly the cause of hospitalizations or deaths, it is clear that there are several types of cases, including cases where beni koji-related products may have caused harm in some way and had some indirect impact," according to the latest statement from Kobayashi.
The company's top executives appeared at a press conference in March and bowed deeply as they apologized to the Japanese population.
At the time, the company announced that five deaths were being investigated for suspected links to the supplement. It has now been clarified that one of the five deaths was not related to the supplement, according to Kobayashi's latest report. Therefore, a total of 80 deaths are being investigated.
