From Supplement Safety to Regulatory Reform: A Dark Chapter in Japan’s Health and Beauty Industry

In 2023, the Japanese government conducted a raid on a factory that produces health supplements, as they believed the supplements had caused the deaths of at least five people and hospitalized over 100 others. The raid took place at the plant of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. in Osaka, and was extensively covered by Japanese media, including NHK.

The supplements in question all contained a type of red mold known as “benikoji.” One of the products, called Benikoji Choleste Help, claimed to help lower cholesterol levels. The company revealed that they had sold around a million packages over the last three fiscal years, both domestically and internationally.

However, reports of health issues related to the supplements surfaced in 2023, even though benikoji had been used in various products for years. The company’s president has issued an apology for the delayed response and stated that they are cooperating with government health authorities in the ongoing investigation.

The recent deregulation initiatives in Japan aimed at boosting economic growth have been cited as a possible factor in the swift approval process for health products. However, incidents of deaths linked to mass-produced items are uncommon in Japan due to strict government regulations over consumer products.

In response to the supplement-related illnesses, the government has ordered a review of the approval system and a report is expected in May. In addition, they have warned that the number of affected individuals could increase as investigations continue.