In response to health issues arising from the use of a supplement containing benikoji red rice mold produced by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry in Tokyo has announced the discovery of previously unknown substances in the supplement’s ingredients.
While puberulic acid, a natural substance derived from blue mold, had been previously detected, the ministry’s recent announcement indicates the presence of additional unidentified substances in the supplement.
Efforts are underway to identify these substances, which are not typically found in the supplement’s ingredients.
During Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s investigation, puberulic acid was found in some of the ingredients. The ministry received ingredient samples from the company and analyzed them at the National Institute of Health Sciences in Kawasaki.
Analysis revealed the presence of at least two additional substances, alongside puberulic acid, in samples manufactured between June and August of the previous year. Notably, these substances were absent in products manufactured during other periods. The ministry plans to continue identifying these substances and investigating their potential contamination and toxicity.
As of Thursday, five users of the supplement had died, and 240 had been hospitalized due to health complications.
