On Tuesday, the chairman and president of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, a major Japanese dietary supplement maker, announced their resignation following a health crisis involving their cholesterol-lowering tablets. The company is investigating 80 deaths that may be connected to the supplements, which contain red yeast rice.
Red yeast rice, a fermented product used for centuries in East Asia for various purposes, has been linked to both benefits and risks in medical studies. While it is known to improve cholesterol levels, it also carries the potential for organ damage depending on its chemical composition.
The company’s president, Akihiro Kobayashi, and chairman, Kazumasa Kobayashi, who are both members of the founding family, resigned to address executive responsibility regarding the red yeast rice issue. The company stated the resignation was necessary to clarify accountability for the actions taken in response to the health concerns.
The scandal began in March when Kobayashi Pharmaceutical recalled three brands of its dietary supplements after reports of kidney problems emerged from customers. The company later discovered a potentially toxic acid produced by the mould used in their production process. Following this, government inspections of the company’s facilities were conducted.
In recent developments, the company announced that it is investigating a total of 80 deaths potentially linked to their supplements, and evaluating whether other organs might have been affected. The delay in reporting the investigation’s progress was criticized by the government.
In response to the situation, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s board expressed condolences to the victims’ families and announced Satoshi Yamane, previously head of sustainability policy, as the new president. Akihiro Kobayashi will remain involved in an executive role to manage compensation matters.
The red yeast rice supplements are regulated under a system established in 2015 under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Some watchdogs have voiced concerns that the current regulations may be inadequate and that the supplements do not always deliver the promised effects.
