"Kobayashi Pharma's wide supply chain complicates search for tainted products," 4 Apr 2024

Nearly two weeks have passed since Kobayashi Pharmaceutical first reported health concerns over its beni kōji red yeast rice supplements — but tracking down its tainted products in the supply chain is proving to be extremely difficult.

An investigation into the cause of the health issues is underway, with partner companies attempting to recall products that could include the batch of beni kōji said to have caused kidney problems.

So far, the beni kōji supplements had been linked to at least five deaths, 188 hospitalizations and 1,058 doctor visits...

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical submitted a report to the health ministry in which it disclosed the names of 52 companies that had been directly supplied with its beni kōji, and 173 companies that receive the substance from the 52 companies....

However, research by Teikoku Databank found that the drugmaker's reach is much wider when considering companies that purchase the red yeast rice further down the supply chain...

Looking at the overall market, the study showed that around 33,000 companies have sold and distributed products using Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's beni kōji...

...the Osaka Municipal Government reported that... they had identified approximately 860,000 Kobayashi Pharmaceutical products that were sold in around 23,000 stores...