Japan sales of 'functional' foods drop 11% after supplement deaths

Distrust grows toward loosely regulated value-added product category

20240412N Kobayashi supplements

Five people have died after taking Kobayashi Pharmaceutical products containing red yeast rice, called beni koji in Japan. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)

HIROMOTO DEGUCHI, YUYA TAKAHASHI and HIROKI OBAYASHI, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Consumers in Japan are shying away from dietary supplements and other so-called functional foods over a health scare linked to red yeast rice products from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical.

Other supplement producers are rushing to assure customers that their offerings are safe. But restoring trust in the industry will not be easy, especially given criticism that Japan lacks rigorous measures to secure the safety of supplements.

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