Pharmaceutical factory inspection

Japan’s health ministry and local officials have inspected a pharmaceutical factory that handles raw materials for dietary supplements containing the ingredient “beni-koji,” or red yeast rice.

The supplements are apparently linked to kidney diseases and other health damage. The factory is operated by a subsidiary of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. A team of 17 health ministry and Wakayama Prefectural officials arrived at the plant on Sunday morning for an inspection in accordance with the Food Sanitation Act. 

The plant, in Kinokawa City, inherited the manufacturing equipment from Kobayashi pharma’s aging plant in Osaka City after it was shut down last December. Spokesperson of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Tomiyama Yuko on Sunday told reporters that the company will fully cooperate with the authorities during the on-site inspection.