Investigation Ongoing into Possible Deaths Linked to Supplements

Two top bosses at Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, a Japanese health company, have quit their jobs. This comes as the company looks into 80 deaths that might be connected to some of its products.

The company’s president and chairman, who are part of the family that started the business, have stepped down. They did this to take responsibility for problems with their fermented rice products called beni kōji.

In March, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical took five products off the market after customers reported kidney problems. The company started looking into this after a doctor told them about health issues in January. They also set up a phone line for worried customers.

People who used the products said they had problems like:

Changes in their pee color
Swelling in their arms and legs
Feeling very tired
The company found a possibly harmful acid made by mold in one of its factories.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said they are sorry to their customers and business partners. They also said they would pray for those who died and comfort their families.

A new president, Satoshi Yamane, will take over. The old president will stay to help with any payments to affected customers.

Beni kōji is rice fermented with a special kind of red-purple mold. It’s sold as a health supplement to help with high cholesterol and blood pressure. It’s also used to color food.