TOKYO, March 26, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A major Japanese drugmaker said Tuesday it
was investigating one death from kidney dysfunction potentially linked to
health supplements recalled last week by the firm.

It comes a day after the drugmaker, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, said it was
aware of 26 cases of people being hospitalised in relation to the
prescription-free supplements.

The three recalled products -- "beni koji choleste help" and two similarly
named supplements -- contain an ingredient called "beni koji", made by
fermenting rice with yeast, which is supposed to lower levels of bad
cholesterol.

"We're now aware of one instance where there is a potential causal link
between a death and our product," Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said in a
statement.

"We are currently investigating the link, and what happened," it said,
offering its "deepest apologies".

The Osaka-based drugmaker voluntarily recalled the three products on Friday
following customer complaints about kidney problems.

It said on Monday that it had not reached a conclusion on a link between the
health problems and its supplements, but said analysis had found a
possibility that the beni koji contained "ingredients we had not intended to
include".

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical says it has supplied beni koji to around 50 other
firms worldwide, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Japanese media reports said Kobayashi executives would visit the victim's
family on Tuesday.