On March 25, 2024, according to Japanese media news, 33 people have developed abnormal health conditions such as kidney disease after taking health products containing monascus ingredients produced by KOBAYASHI PHARMACEUTICA Co., LTD., and 26 of them have been hospitalized.

On March 22, Japan's KOBAYASHI PHARMACEUTICA said that some consumers had kidney disease and other health problems after using health products containing monascus ingredients produced by the company. Later, the company issued an emergency recall of about 300,000 health supplements containing monascus, citing possible health hazards.

On March 24, KOBAYASHI revealed that it had supplied red yeast to about 50 companies, including beverage and food manufacturers. Subsequently, Japanese food and wine manufacturers have announced the recall of products containing monascus made by KOBAYASHI PHARMACEUTICA.

The company is recalling the affected products and urging consumers not to take the products.