May 28, 2024, according to Japanese media news, for Japan's KOBAYASHI PHARMACEUTICAL containing monascus ingredient health care products to consumer health problems, Takemi Keizo, Minister of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (MHLW) said, by working with experts in related fields, it has been basically determined that the soft penicillium acid detected in the monascus ingredient produced by KOBAYASHI PHARMACEUTICAL will have a negative impact on the kidney.

It is understood that, as of May 27, KOBAYASHI PHARMACEUTICAL Company health care products containing monascus ingredients has led to five deaths, more than 1,600 people to seek medical treatment, a total of more than 280 people hospitalized.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also revealed that in addition to the previously found puberulinic acid, two unexpected substances were detected in the problematic monascus ingredient produced by KOBAYASHI PHARMACEUTICAL. The researchers are analyzing the specific composition of the two substances and why they appear in the raw material of monascus.