Japan officials search dietary supplements factory after 5 deaths

Probe into suspected link between red yeast supplements and reports of kidney disease

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Japanese health officials searched a Kobayashi Pharmaceutical factory on March 30 after the drugmaker reported five deaths possibly linked to dietary supplements using red yeast rice, an official said.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the city of Osaka jointly inspected the factory in Osaka that had made the supplements containing Beni-Koji red yeast, suspected of having caused health damage, the ministry official said.

News footage showed officials entering the factory, and the official said the ministry could search other related locations.

The factory, which made the product until December, had been closed due to ageing facilities, Japanese media said.