The deaths suspected related to Japanese drugmaker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's dietary supplements containing red yeast rice have topped 90, according to the latest Japanese media reports.
Hideyuki Yokoyama, mayor of Osaka, the home of the drugmaker's headquarters, stated on Monday that the suspected death toll linked to the consumption of the company's red yeast rice dietary supplements had risen to 93 as of Friday.
The scandal-hit company previously confirmed in March that five people had died after taking the supplements and recalled the products. After that, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical didn't proactively report any new death cases associated with the products.
It was not until last month, when the country's health ministry inquired about any additional death cases, that the company reported 76 new deaths on June 28. This number has continued to climb since, according to Japanese media.
The media have suggested that Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's management may have been aware of the sharp rise in death cases much earlier but did not disclose the information to the Japanese government.
The Japanese heath ministry has already determined that the presence of puberulic acid, a natural compound derived from blue mold, in the supplement is linked to the consumers' kidney damage. The specific source of the contamination remains under investigation.
Japanese reports indicate that in addition to kidney disease, the new suspected death cases also involve other medical conditions.
The company has stated that it will investigate the cases beyond just kidney issues, as the scope of consumer health impairment may expand further.
93 deaths suspected related to Japan drugmaker's supplements
93 deaths suspected related to Japan drugmaker's supplements
