Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has attracted continued attention. On the 26th, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced the second death caused by ingesting health products containing the ingredient “red yeast rice” from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company. What are the products involved? Have they flowed into China? Can red yeast rice be eaten with confidence? What other issues have "Internet celebrity drugs" overturned?
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Headquarters, Osaka, Japan. Picture/Xinhua News Agency
Timeline of events
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical issued a recall notice
The number of hospitalizations has increased to 106
The products involved and their sales locations
A total of three products were involved
Some domestic e-commerce websites in China have sold
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. It is an enterprise with a history of more than 130 years and focuses on product development. It is mainly engaged in the research, development, production and sales of drugs, medical devices, daily necessities, food, etc. Products are not only sold in Japan, but also sold to the United States, the United Kingdom, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.
's main brands sold in China include: "Nuanbaobao", a series of disposable heating sheets, "Bingbao Patch", a series of medical antipyretic patches, "Xiangjuyuan", a series of fragrances, and "Keji", a series of disposable cleaning papers. "clean" etc.
The official website of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company announced the three products involved. Please pay attention to the following packaging products and do not buy or continue to take them.
Picture/@CCTV Finance Video screenshot
Some of the products recalled by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical will be sold online and offline stores from February 2021. As of the end of February this year, about 1.06 million bags have been sold. In addition, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is also considering compensating affected consumers.
The relevant health products recalled this time were previously sold in many drugstores in Japan, so we cannot rule out the possibility that some tourists visiting Japan may buy related products. In addition, some domestic e-commerce websites in China have also sold related products. Consumers who have purchased similar health products are reminded to confirm as soon as possible and immediately stop taking the products that have been recalled by the manufacturers.
On Chinese e-commerce platforms, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s official stores on Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduo are currently unable to search for Hongqu cholesterol granules.
html On the 26th, a reporter called Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to inquire about the recall process. The other party said that products purchased at overseas flagship stores on Tmall, JD.com, and Pinduoduo can be returned through official channels.Regarding the products purchased on behalf of agents, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical staff said that they can send the physical products back. After the company verifies that they are genuine products, they will refer to the price on the Japanese official website for refunds. The deadline for recalling products has not yet been clarified. The staff said, "This is a long-term plan."
Voices from all parties
Japan’s Consumer Agency requires Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s manufacturing explanation
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s president bows and apologizes
The company involved
On March 22, in Osaka, Japan, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s president Akihiro Kobayashi (first from left) was at a press conference . Photo/Xinhua News Agency
html On the evening of March 22, President Kobayashi Pharmaceutical held a press conference and bowed and apologized for this issue. At the same time, he strongly advises consumers who are using these products to stop using them immediately. Japanese media reported that analysis results on the 16th of this month showed that it may contain unknown ingredients. The company did not announce the recall until the 22nd. President Kobayashi Pharmaceutical admitted that the decision was slow.Japan official
●The Japanese Consumer Agency requires Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company to submit a relevant report to explain the kidney disease problems caused by consumers using health products containing red yeast rice.
● In response to the issue that health products containing red yeast rice ingredients produced by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company may cause damage to consumers' health, relevant Japanese departments will conduct an emergency inspection on the safety of all 6,795 types of functional foods on the market.
●Based on the Food Hygiene Law, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan has required the Osaka City headquarters of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company to take measures including product disposal.
In response to the situation where many people were hospitalized and two people died after taking products containing red yeast rice from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will hold a meeting with relevant departments such as the Consumer Affairs Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the 27th to discuss future countermeasures.
●The Osaka City Government in Japan ordered Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company to recall three products including "Monascus Cholesterol Granules".
Other companies
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Company has now found out that in addition to the problematic raw materials used in the red yeast series of health products produced by the company, it has also supplied 52 companies in Japan and abroad. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical can produce 18.5 tons of red yeast raw materials every year, about 80% of which is used to supply other beverage and food companies. The incident has triggered a chain reaction of food safety issues in Japan, with many companies announcing recalls of products using red yeast rice ingredients. These include: Takara Shuzo Foods Co., Ltd. located in Kyoto City announced the recall of sparkling Japanese sake called "Shochikumei Hakubezo 'Mio'"; Kibun Foods located in Tokyo announced the recall of two "Octopus Salt Spicy" products; Mafufu located in Nagoya City Announced the recall of 13 types of soy snacks; Reika, located in Fukuoka City, announced the recall of its snack food "Thick Cheese Senbei".
Picture/@CCTV Finance Video screenshot
Takara Shuzo, a large Japanese sake manufacturer, announced the recall of about 100,000 bottles of a sake newly released in January this year because of the use of red yeast raw materials produced by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical. So far, there have been no reports of harm to the health of consumers caused by this sake. On March 24, the manufacturer confirmed that the wine was only exported to Singapore and Taiwan, China, and had not entered the mainland Chinese market.
About red yeast rice
It has been used in our country for more than 1,000 years.
Red yeast rice can be used in appropriate amounts according to production needs
red yeast rice. Picture/ic
Red yeast rice is a food colorant (food pigment) that has been used in my country for more than 1,000 years and is still widely used. It is also the only natural food pigment in the world that is produced by microbial fermentation.
Ruan Guangfeng, director of the Science and Technology Communication Department of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center, once said that red yeast rice is also called Monascus red, Monascus mold, and red yeast rice. It uses rice and soybeans as the main raw materials to make a liquid culture medium, which is fermented by Monascus liquid. Cultured and then extracted, concentrated and refined, it can also be obtained from red yeast rice as raw material, extracted, concentrated and refined.
Red yeast rice can give food a ruddy and bright color, and has good stability. It is naturally produced during the fermentation process, so it has been used as a natural pigment for a long time. In yogurt, fermented bean curd, jam, candy, mustard, biscuits, instant noodles, potato chips, beverages and other foods, red yeast rice can be used in appropriate amounts according to production needs.
Red yeast rice is often promoted as a health food. In 1979, the Japanese discovered an active substance from Monascus that can inhibit cholesterol synthesis, namely monacolin k, and developed the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin based on this. Since then, scientists have found more active ingredients such as ergosterol (which can be converted into vitamin D in the body), gamma-aminobutyric acid and more in red yeast rice. Relevant scientific research has also confirmed that certain substances in red yeast have certain anti-cancer, lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, lowering blood pressure and other functions. However, the content of these functional ingredients is not high, so whether it is a normal diet or a health food developed based on red yeast rice, it will not be as magical as some merchants claim.
On the other hand, trace amounts of toxic substances may be produced during the fermentation process of Monascus, such as citrinin, which is nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic to a certain extent. At present, my country's food industry has screened out excellent Monascus species that do not produce citrinin and reduced the production of citrinin by improving the production process. At the same time, my country's relevant national standards also set limits on citrinin penicillin in Monascus pigment.
Problems with “Internet celebrity” eye drops
In recent years, some have been banned from sale
Experts recommend that drugs must be diagnosed by a professional doctor before use
“Internet celebrity” eye drops
In April 2019, several best-selling eye drops from Japan The potion is banned in Canada. Information released by Health Canada shows that a total of six eye drops and acne treatment ointments from Japan have been removed from the shelves, including best-selling eye drops such as Santen FX and PC.Health Canada believes that these products contain ingredients that are prescription drugs and should be used under the guidance of a doctor, otherwise they may cause serious side effects and endanger the health of the user.
Picture/CCTV Finance
eve "White Rabbit Pain Relief Tablets"
Picture/Chengdu Market Supervision Official Account
"White Rabbit Pain Relief Tablets" is an over-the-counter drug produced in Japan. It has not been approved for sale in my country and is mainly sold online. In fact, the main ingredient of this drug that acts as an analgesic is the same as ibuprofen, a common domestic drug. In addition to ibuprofen, eve's "White Rabbit Pain Relief Tablets" also use two ingredients, valproyl urea and caffeine. The investigation found that the ingredient valproyl urea has been eliminated in many countries. It cannot be used as a pharmaceutical ingredient or for medicinal purposes in our country, and can only be traded as a chemical ingredient for scientific research.
When valproylurea enters the body, it will bind to the platelets, thus forming a complex of the drug and the antibody. When the drug is cleared from the body, the platelets are also removed, which can cause idiopathic thrombocytopenia. Purpura. In addition, valproylurea itself has certain dependence and addiction. Although these drugs are not prescription drugs in Japan, the risks of taking them are uncontrollable.
Popular cosmeceutical product "Small Powder Pills"
Picture/Healthy Guangdong Public Account
Small powder pills are regarded as the "Japanese miracle medicine" and are said to have the effect of treating constipation and losing weight. On overseas cosmeceutical purchasing platforms, many people who have purchased the small powder pills said that they had severe stomach pain after taking them, and their constipation worsened as soon as they stopped taking the medicine.
In fact, this medicine is essentially a stimulant laxative, which is only suitable for patients with constipation who are difficult to change their habits and should be used under the guidance of a doctor. Its medicinal effect is to stimulate the colon to produce high-frequency contractions and promote defecation. Enterologists said that if small powder pills are taken orally in large amounts for a long time, the irritation or damage to the colon will be irreversible, and it may also cause side effects.
In fact, after careful study, it is not difficult to find that many so-called "Japanese miracle drugs" have nothing special or innovative in their ingredients. Most of the drugs have actually been on the market and circulated in China with the same ingredients for a long time. Many of them Sellers are just taking advantage of the information gap to promote and sell to consumers who lack medical knowledge.
Experts suggest that drugs should still be diagnosed by professional doctors before they can be used. It would be hasty to decide whether to try them just based on personal cases on social media. Moreover, some types of medicines may also become ineffective due to transportation problems. The more serious problem is that once problems arise with overseas shopping products, it will be difficult to protect rights.
Data sources: Beijing News, CCTV News, CCTV Finance, Xinhua Daily Telegraph, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical (China) Co., Ltd. Weibo, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical (China) Co., Ltd. website, Jinyun, Healthy Guangdong, Chengdu Market Supervision, Zhejiang Online , China Association for Science and Technology
Editor Ai Zheng Design Lu Zixiong Proofreading Zhang Yanjun
