TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said on Wednesday (March 27) that 31 businesses have voluntarily reported the use of red yeast rice raw materials from Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical.
A total of 123 items have been reported and have been preventively removed from shelves, the FDA revealed.
The move comes after health products containing red yeast rice from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical in Japan were linked to kidney disease in some consumers. Although Taiwan has not imported the same product, two companies have imported the raw material of red yeast rice from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical.
FDA Director-General Wu Hsiu-mei said that SHS Biotech Co., Ltd., one of the two importers, has a total of 405.7 kilograms of red yeast rice raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products in stock.
In addition, HealthTake Corporation, another importer, has checked 3,120 kilograms of the material, which has been preventively sealed and removed from shelves by local health bureaus.
The FDA continues to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of consumers, said Wu.