Kobayashi Pharma HK urges customers to steer away from its red yeast rice products

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s Hong Kong branch said on Tuesday that customers should avoid purchasing its red yeast rice products, which are being recalled due to reports of kidney and other health problems.

This came as the Osaka-based drug maker said up to 76 people in Japan had developed health problems in the last week after taking supplements from a line of products containing beni koji red yeast rice. It also reported a death with a possible link to the supplements, with the person dying of kidney disease after reportedly consuming the supplements for about three years.

The company suspects an unknown ingredient derived from mold may have caused the problems. Among notable reported symptoms are swelling and fatigue, alongside decreased kidney function.

The pharmaceutical company is now voluntarily recalling five of its products, including its Beni Koji Choleste Help. It also said it is examining the causal relationship between ingestion and death.

The company’s Hong Kong branch said the city has not imported the supplements in question, yet the product could still be on the market as parallel imported goods.

It recommended consumers avoid consumption of the products and apologized for the inconvenience caused.