Reported about 1 year ago
The red yeast rice health supplements from Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical caused a food safety crisis in March this year, resulting in five deaths. Investigated by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the compound responsible for these fatalities was identified as aflatoxin, specifically soft and fuzzy aflatoxin. This toxin, found in soil and typically associated with fruit spoilage, entered the production line possibly through soil contamination from outside air infiltrating the factories. The Ministry discovered that all Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast rice production facilities were contaminated with this toxin, with further research ongoing to identify two additional unknown substances in the products.
Source: YAHOO