In the week since the recall of a variety of Japanese fitness supplements began, five more people died and more than 100 were hospitalized on Friday.
Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. has come under fire for temporarily going public with internally known disorders as early as January. The first public announcement took place on March 22.
Company officials said another 114 people were being treated in hospitals after taking cholesterol-lowering products, adding Benikoji Choleste Help, which involves an element called benikoji, a kind of red mold. Earlier in the week, the death toll stood at two.
Some other people have developed kidney disorders after taking those supplements, but the precise cause is still being investigated in cooperation with government labs, according to the manufacturer.
“We apologize profoundly,” chairman Akihiro Kobayashi told reporters on Friday, bowing to underline his apology to three senior corporate officials.
He expressed his condolences to those who died and fell ill, as well as their families. He also apologized for the disruption caused to the entire herbal food industry and the medical profession, adding that the company was racing to spare them further harm and crisis management.
The company’s products have been recalled, along with dozens of other products containing benikoji, plus miso paste, crackers and a vinegar dressing. Japan’s Ministry of Health has a list of all recalled products on its official website, adding some that use benikoji as food. coloring.
The ministry warned that the death toll may also continue to rise. Supplements can also be purchased from pharmacies without a prescription and some would likely have been purchased or exported prior to the recall, in addition to tourists who may not be aware of the health risks.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical had been promoting benikoji for years, with one million packs sold in the last 3 fiscal years, but a challenge arose with the supplements produced in 2023. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said it produced 18. 5 tons of benikoji last year.
Some analysts blame recent deregulation initiatives, which have simplified and accelerated the approval of fitness products, for boosting economic growth.