TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Visitors to Japan should avoid buying or ingesting red yeast products following the death of five Japanese consumers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday (April 2).
Taiwan did not import Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s red yeast rice products, but 11 Taiwanese fell ill after consuming health capsules made with raw materials from the Japanese company. During this week’s four-day Tomb Sweeping Holiday, many Taiwanese are expected to travel to Japan.
MOFA said it had asked Taiwan’s representative office in Japan to closely monitor developments in the case, per Radio Taiwan International (RTI). The authorities are still investigating the affair to find the cause of the contamination.
Taiwanese diplomats posted in Japan have also been asked to pass on updated information about the findings of the investigation. Taiwan has imported a significant amount of health products from Japan.
According to MOFA, Tokyo will inform the World Health Organization (WHO) and foreign governments about the case. Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has received a list of all relevant Kobayashi products and told local companies to withdraw food and health items using the ingredients from Japan.
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