2024.0401

Number of words in this article:1150, reading time is about 2 minutes

introduction：周六和周日，日本厚生劳动省连续搜查了小林制药两家工厂。

** Author| ** First Finance and Economics Qian Tongxin

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast health products have died. On March 31, Japanese health authorities searched the company's second factory in Japan. Although regulators have expanded the scope of their investigation, the link between taking red yeast supplements and patients 'renal failure remains unclear.

Japanese health officials said they would work with other relevant departments to do their best to resolve the current incident and asked Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to cooperate with the investigation as needed. According to CCTV reports, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration reported that as of 13:00 on March 31, a total of 6 cases related to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast products had been received.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said it is aware of cases occurring overseas but declined to comment further on the cases.

On Saturday and Sunday, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare successively searched two Kobayashi Pharmaceutical factories in Osaka City and Wakayama Prefecture.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical issued a report to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on March 29 stating that the ingredient causing the problem in its red yeast products may be a substance called "penicillic acid", which was detected in red yeast supplements produced by the company's Osaka factory from April to October last year.

According to reports, the factory in Yodogawa District, Osaka was closed in December due to aging facilities, and production was transferred to the Kinokawa City factory in northern Wakayama Prefecture.

Yuko Tomiyama, head of investor relations for Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals, told reporters in a video broadcast on Japan's Public Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) on Sunday:"We will fully cooperate with the investigation so that the problem can be resolved as soon as possible. "

Since Kobayashi Pharmaceutical announced a recall of red yeast supply-related products on March 22, health authorities in many places in Asia have issued warnings.

Previously, China Taiwan has reported a suspected case of acute renal failure two months after taking Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Red Rice Capsules. It is reported that several companies in China Taiwan import red yeast raw materials from Xiaolin Pharmaceutical and make them into red yeast capsules for sale. At present, the local food and drug administration department has preventively removed 226 related products.

South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has also announced a list of 182 Japanese recalled products containing red yeast ingredients produced by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical and other companies, requiring consumers not to buy these products online.

On Friday, the Consumer Association of China urged consumers to stop using products that may be affected and actively cooperate with recalls.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical previously said it was studying the impact of the latest incidents on the company's earnings. Considering the complex supply chain of food and health products, the overall impact of the "red yeast recall" on the industry is still difficult to assess.

The main component of red yeast is Monascus, a red mold that can be used as an edible coloring. Data shows that Kobayashi Pharmaceutical sells red yeast raw materials wholesale to 52 companies. Currently, these companies have conducted voluntary inspections and they then sell these raw materials to 173 other production companies. The industry expects that the number of food manufacturers affected may eventually reach about 1800.

Previously, the Japanese government criticized Kobayashi for taking two months to disclose the health impact of its products.