Japan’s Kobayashi Pharmaceutical now probing 80 deaths over possible link to benikoji red yeast supplement [Video]

Tokyo — Japanese health supplement maker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said Friday it was probing 76 more deaths possibly linked to its tablets containing red yeast rice, meant to lower cholesterol. It deepens a scandal that erupted earlier this year when the company said it was looking into five deaths potentially linked to the over-the-counter products after dozens of customers reported kidney problems.

Fermented with a mould culture, red yeast rice, or “benikoji,” has been used in food, alcoholic drinks and folk medicines for centuries around East Asia.

“Even if the direct cause of hospitalisation or death was not kidney-related disease, it has become clear that there are a variety of cases, including cases in which benikoji-related products may have caused harm somehow and had some indirect impact,” a Kobayashi statement said.

• What U.S. consumers should know about the supplement linked to deaths in Japan

Of the five initial deaths under investigation, the company said it now …