Mahkatop
Mahkatop — Japanese health authorities have reported that at least 80 citizens have died due to consuming the cholesterol-lowering supplement, beni koji. Health officials revealed that the supplement contained puberulic acid, a highly toxic compound produced by mold.
The scandal deepened earlier this year when the manufacturer, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, began investigating five potential deaths related to the product. Dozens of customers had also reported kidney problems after consuming the supplement.
A statement from the company, quoted by CBN News, acknowledged that although the direct cause of hospitalization or death wasn’t always kidney-related, there were numerous cases where the beni koji product likely caused damage and had indirect health impacts.
On March 22, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical announced a recall of three types of tablets containing beni koji. The company had detected the presence of toxic acid produced by mold at one of its factories. Government officials subsequently inspected the company’s facilities.
In response to the sudden surge in reported deaths, Japan’s Health Minister, Keizo Takemi, expressed regret that Kobayashi Pharmaceutical had not provided updated information to the ministry earlier.
The pharmaceutical company received at least 1,656 reports of medical complaints following the consumption of the supplement, with 80 deaths directly linked to the product. The CholesteHelp-branded products have been recalled in both Japan and China, the only countries where the supplement was sold, according to a spokesperson for Kobayashi Pharmaceutical.(*)
