Kobayashi Recall: Safety Vow & Health Scare Update
- osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is renewing its commitment to consumer safety after a health scare involving its supplements containing red fermented rice, known as beni kōji.
- Toyoda saeid the company will overhaul its personnel system, emphasizing human resource development to bolster product quality controls.
- The company aims to provide compensation to affected customers and implement thorough preventive measures.
kobayashi Pharmaceutical is taking decisive action, prioritizing consumer safety after the red rice supplement scare, with its CEO vowing to prevent future health issues. The company is overhauling its personnel systems and bolstering product quality controls, a direct response to the kidney problems linked to its beni kōji supplements. News Directory 3 understands the commitment to compensating affected customers and implementing stringent preventive measures. This proactive approach includes assigning skilled personnel and revamping specialist promotions. What specific steps is the company taking to increase accountability, and how will these changes reshape future operations? Discover what’s next in this critical safety update.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Vows Safety After Red Rice Supplement Scare
Updated June 04, 2025
osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is renewing its commitment to consumer safety after a health scare involving its supplements containing red fermented rice, known as beni kōji. President and CEO Norikazu Toyoda, who assumed his role in March, pledged to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.
Toyoda saeid the company will overhaul its personnel system, emphasizing human resource development to bolster product quality controls. The move follows the company’s March announcement regarding reports of kidney problems among supplement users.
The company aims to provide compensation to affected customers and implement thorough preventive measures. According to Toyoda, risk control during production was inadequate, leading to the contamination of beni kōji with puberulic acid from blue mold.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical plans to assign skilled personnel to quality examinations and analyses at production sites and hire experienced mid-career professionals. Employee evaluations for specialist promotions will also be revamped in December.
The company recently appointed Yoshihito ota as chairman. toyoda believes the management culture is evolving, with outside directors actively contributing.
What’s next
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical will continue to focus on improving its quality control processes and supporting those affected by the supplement issue. the company’s efforts to revamp personnel systems and enhance risk management are ongoing.