(CNN) March 29, according to the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported that on the 29th, Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company issued a news release, said another person in the company's production of health care products containing red currant ingredients died, the number of related deaths has increased to five people.
Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals reportedly said that the family of the additional deceased contacted the company, saying that the deceased died after developing symptoms of a suspected kidney disease after taking a health supplement containing red currant. This is similar to the cause of death of the four previous victims.
In addition, 93 people are being hospitalised for the same reason.
Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tetsuki Sakamoto, said on the 29th, has ordered Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals to make every effort to recall the products in question, in order to avoid further expansion of the problem of damage to consumer health.
On the 28th, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also stated on the matter that efforts must be made to identify the causes and to consider all necessary countermeasures.
As previously reported, Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals decided on 22 March to urgently recall three of the company's health products containing red yeast. According to the company, the problem may be due to the products being mixed with a previously "unexpected" ingredient from mould, but it has not yet been clarified exactly what the ingredient is.
Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals produces red currant raw materials that are sold to other companies for use in brewing and food manufacturing, in addition to its own production of health products. The recall of food products and seasonings using Kobayashi's red currant has now been extended to all of Japan.
