According to the manufacturer, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, the purpose of the dietary supplement, called Beni-Koji, was to lower cholesterol levels. As specified, one of the deceased took the nutritional supplement for three years and died from kidney disease. There is no public information about the second death.

Currently, the authorities are checking this type of dietary supplement, which includes approximately 6 thousand types of products. The manufacturer has already recalled 5 types of supplements, including approximately 300 thousand packages of dietary supplements with fermented rice, Kyodo reports.