Japanese authorities yesterday ordered drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to recall three dietary supplement products containing red yeast rice, or “beni-koji,” after they were linked to two deaths and more than 100 hospitalizations, while in Taipei, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recalled 121 products containing the yeast.
Two Taiwanese importers of red yeast rice products made by Kobayashi had issued recalls, FDA Director-General Wu Shou-mei (吳秀梅) told a weekly news briefing.
New Taipei City-based SHS Biotech Co (三合興產業股份) recalled 405kg of its ingredients, while Taichung-based Healthtake Corp (和司特) recalled more than 3,000kg from its 39 downstream businesses, Wu said.
Photo: AP
As of 9pm on Tuesday, 31 companies and suppliers voluntarily reported their products containing red yeast rice ingredients and removed them from shelves, she said.
In Japan, at least 106 people have been hospitalized, and many more are believed to have been sickened, after taking Kobayashi’s supplements, which were marketed as helping to lower cholesterol levels, the government said.
Medical studies describe red yeast rice as an alternative to statins for lowering high cholesterol, but also warn of a risk of organ damage depending on its chemical makeup.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“The total number of suspected deaths [is now] two,” while “106 cases of potentially linked hospitalization also came to light,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.
It is unclear if all the illnesses are directly linked to beni-koji.
Beni-koji contains Monascus purpureus, a red mold that is also used as a red coloring in some foods.
Kobayashi this week urged 52 manufacturers to recall a wide range of products, and in addition to its products, more than 40 others from other companies containing beni-koji — including miso paste, crackers and a vinegar dressing — were recalled, starting last week, a Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare official said.
The official warned that there could be more victims in the days ahead. He asked everyone to stop ingesting anything with beni-koji in it.
Those with health problems, such as weak kidneys, could be especially vulnerable, he said.
Additional reporting by AFP
‘UNITED FRONT’: The married couple allegedly produced talk show videos for platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to influence Taiwan’s politics A husband and wife affiliated with the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) were indicted yesterday for allegedly receiving NT$74 million (US$2.32 million) from China to make radio and digital media propaganda to promote the Chinese government’s political agenda and influence the outcome of Taiwan’s elections. Chang Meng-chung (張孟崇) and his wife, Hung Wen-ting (洪文婷), allegedly received a total of NT$74 million from China between 2021 and last year to promote candidates favored by Beijing, contravening the Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法) and election laws, the Chiayi District Prosecutors’ Office said. The couple acted as Beijing’s propaganda mouthpiece by disparaging Hong Kong democracy activists
A Control Yuan member yesterday said he would initiate an investigation into why the number of foreign nationals injured or killed in traffic incidents has nearly doubled in the past few years, and whether government agencies’ mechanisms were ineffective in ensuring road safety. Control Yuan member Yeh Ta-hua (葉大華) said in a news release that Taiwan has been described as a “living hell for pedestrians” and traffic safety has become an important national security issue. According to a National Audit Office report released last year, more than 780,000 foreign nationals were legally residing in Taiwan in 2019, which grew to more than
‘SOMETHING SPECIAL’: Donald Trump vowed to reward his supporters, while President William Lai said he was confident the Taiwan-US partnership would continue Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the US early yesterday morning, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts. With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency. As of press time last night, The Associated Press had Trump on 277 electoral college votes to 224 for US Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s nominee, with Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Michigan and Nevada yet to finalize results. He had 71,289,216 votes nationwide, or 51 percent, while Harris had 66,360,324 (47.5 percent). “We’ve been through so
The US will continue its friendly approach toward Taiwan in the next US administration and Taiwan would work to prevent China “making trouble” during the transition, a senior Taiwanese security official said yesterday. Former US president Donald Trump, the Republican candidate who claimed victory in Tuesday’s vote against US Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party, made comments on the campaign trail that Taiwan should pay to be protected and also accused the nation of “stealing” American semiconductor business. Taiwan has faced military pressure from Beijing over the past five years, including four major rounds of war games in the past