A major health and business crisis is unfolding in Japan as the Kobayashi Pharmaceutical scandal deepens. Over 33,000 companies—from sushi spots to supplement stores—could be impacted by tainted red yeast rice products, according to a Teikoku Databank investigation.
The Osaka-based drugmaker supplied raw materials to 225 firms, with ripple effects hitting:
5,582+ food & beverage retailers
3,884 medical businesses
3,115 restaurants
The company recalled its cholesterol-lowering 'Beni-koji choleste-help' supplements after reports linked them to 5 deaths and 166 hospitalizations. Authorities are now scrambling to track affected products through complex supply chains.
Why It Matters: Red yeast rice is a common ingredient in traditional medicine and fermented foods like miso. This scandal highlights the delicate balance between heritage ingredients and modern safety standards—a story playing out globally as consumers demand 'natural' remedies.
NewspaperAmigo – Your Global News Buddy 
5,582+ food & beverage retailers
3,115 restaurants
Why It Matters: Red yeast rice is a common ingredient in traditional medicine and fermented foods like miso. This scandal highlights the delicate balance between heritage ingredients and modern safety standards—a story playing out globally as consumers demand 'natural' remedies.
China Warns Against Japanese Supplements Linked to…
Kobayashi Pharma Supplements Linked to Deaths in Japan 
