Health supplement products believed to have caused two deaths and sickened more than 100 people have been ordered to be taken off store shelves in Japan, marking the first major recall of a domestically produced supplement in the country.
The products from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., billed as helping to lower cholesterol, contained an ingredient called "benikoji," a red species of mold.
In addition to the products from Osaka-based Kobayashi, more than 40 products from other companies containing benikoji, including miso paste, crackers and a vinegar dressing, were recalled, starting last week, a government health ministry official said Wednesday.
At least 106 people had been hospitalized, and many more are believed to have been sickened, although it's unclear if all the illnesses are directly linked to benikoji (pronounced beh-nee-koh-jeeh).
The ministry has put up a list on its official site of all the recalled products, including some that use benikoji for food coloring.
The company is investigating the cause of the problem. The recalled products could be bought without a prescription from a doctor, and could be purchased at drug stores.
Kobayashi apologized and asked in an online statement: "Please stop taking our products, and please do not use them in the future."
Multiple attempts to reach Kobayashi for comment were unsuccessful. Following the emergence of the issue last week, the company's president and other high-ranking officials conducted a press conference where they expressed their regret by bowing, adhering to the customary practice in Japan.
A government official from the ministry cautioned that there may be additional individuals affected in the coming days. He advised the public to refrain from consuming any products containing benikoji. Those with pre-existing health conditions, such as compromised kidney function, were noted to be at higher risk, according to the official.
