Government Blocks Direct Overseas Purchase of Japanese Red Koji Health Functional Foods

Five Products from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Selected

On the 29th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Customs Service announced that they will block direct overseas purchases of five health functional food products containing red yeast rice from Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, which are suspected to have caused deaths due to kidney disease and other conditions.

The items subject to import blockage include five health functional food products from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical in Osaka, Japan, which were recalled: 'Red Yeast Cholesterol Help' (60 tablets, 90 tablets, 45 tablets), 'Nattokinase Sarasara Gold', and 'Naishi Help＋Cholesterol'. Accordingly, these products will be restricted from entering the country through selection and inspection during the import customs clearance process, resulting in disposal or return.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Customs Service stated that these five products have not been imported into the country and that they have taken measures in cooperation with domestic platform companies to prevent sales through direct overseas purchases. Additionally, they added that if any damage occurs from bringing in Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s products through direct overseas purchases, consumers can apply for consultation under the 'Overseas Direct Purchase Food Properly - International Transaction Consultation' section on the 'Food Safety Korea' portal website.

Red yeast rice is made by fermenting rice with red yeast mold (Monascus purpureus), which gives it a red color and is known to have cholesterol-decomposing effects. Recently in Japan, it has been reported that five people are suspected to have died and about 110 patients have been hospitalized after consuming health supplements containing red yeast rice ingredients, which are believed to have caused kidney disease and other conditions.