The chairman and president of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, a major Japanese dietary supplement maker, are set to resign as the company investigates up to 80 deaths potentially linked to dietary supplements containing red yeast rice. The company’s board released a report criticizing its handling of consumer safety concerns, citing a lack of urgency in responding to reports of kidney problems. Red yeast rice has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, but medical studies warn of potential organ damage depending on the product’s chemical makeup.
The scandal began in March when customers reported kidney issues after taking the company’s supplements. Further investigation revealed a potentially toxic acid produced by mold at one of the firm’s factories. The government conducted inspections, and the company later disclosed that 80 deaths were being probed for possible links to the supplements.
The report by external lawyers criticized Kobayashi Pharmaceutical for its delayed response to the health concerns, stating that the company should have recalled the products and reported the incident immediately. The outgoing president and chairman, both from the founding family, will be replaced. A new president, Satoshi Yamane, has been appointed, while the outgoing president will stay on to manage compensation-related matters.
The government expressed regret over the company’s handling of the situation, calling for more transparency and timely reporting of such incidents. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has faced significant backlash over the incident and is now taking steps to address the situation and ensure consumer safety moving forward.
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