「紅麹」摂取、死者５人に　新たに１人、午後会見―小林製薬

　小林製薬は２９日、健康被害が相次いでいる紅麹（べにこうじ）配合のサプリメントを摂取していた１人が新たに亡くなったと遺族から連絡を受けたことを発表した。これにより、同社のサプリを摂取していたとされる死者は計５人となった。同社は同日午後、大阪市内で記者会見を開く予定で、小林章浩社長らが被害状況などについて説明する見通し。
　小林製薬によると、腎疾患を抱えて亡くなった人の遺族から２８日、生前にサプリを使っていたと連絡を受けたという。摂取期間や因果関係などは確認中で、今後、調査を進めるとしている。同社は「お亡くなりになったお客さまのご冥福をお祈りし、ご遺族の皆さまにお悔やみ申し上げます」とのコメントを出した。（2024/03/29-12:58）

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. on Friday announced the death of another user of the company's supplement product containing "beni koji" red fermented rice, bringing the death toll to five.
   The company was informed by the bereaved family on Thursday that the deceased person had taken the supplement before dying with kidney disease.
   Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said it will investigate any causal link between the product and the death, as well as the period during which the supplement was used. It said in a statement that it prays for the soul of the additional victim and extends its condolences to the bereaved family.
   According to the health ministry, the company had received some 12,000 reports of health issues linked to beni koji supplement products as of Wednesday. A total of 93 supplement users have been hospitalized.
   The ministry said Thursday that 173 companies received beni koji as an ingredient directly or indirectly from Kobayashi Pharmaceutical.