紅麹、台湾で集団提訴　小林製薬などに７．６億円賠償請求

　【台北時事】小林製薬の紅麹（べにこうじ）関連製品の健康被害拡大で、台湾の消費者支援団体は２７日、小林製薬の現地法人や輸入業者など６業者を相手取り、被害を訴える５５人に対する約１億６８００万台湾ドル（約７億６０００万円）の損害賠償を求める集団訴訟を台北地裁に起こした。台湾メディアが伝えた。
　訴訟を起こした民間団体、台湾消費者保護協会によると、５５人は主に腎疾患の症状が出ており、人工透析を受けている患者もいる。同協会は「業者は企業の良心を持ち、責任を果たすべきだ」と訴えた。
　台湾ではこれまでに、原料として輸入された小林製薬の紅麹を台湾のメーカーが加工、販売した製品を摂取した人や、日本でサプリメントを購入し摂取した人による体調不良が報告されている。衛生当局によると、９月２０日までに寄せられた報告は計６９件に上った。（2024/09/28-08:41）

A Taiwanese consumer group sued Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. for compensation for health damage allegedly caused by products related to its "beni koji" red fermented rice on Friday, Taiwanese media reported.
   The group filed the lawsuit with Taipei District Court against six firms including a Taiwanese unit of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical and an importer in Taiwan, seeking 168 million Taiwan dollars, or about 760 million yen, in damages allegedly suffered by 55 people.
   According to the group, the 55 people mostly have kidney disease symptoms, and some of them are receiving dialysis. An official of the group said that the defendant companies should fulfill their responsibilities with a corporate conscience.
   In Taiwan, health problems have been reported for people who took Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's supplement products they purchased in Japan and those who took products made by a Taiwanese firm using the Japanese company's beni koji as an ingredient. According to Taiwanese health authorities, the number of such reports reached 69 by Sept. 20.
   The latest development in Taiwan came after health problems caused by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's supplements containing beni koji were revealed in Japan in March. Earlier this month, Japan's health ministry said that puberulic acid caused kidney damage to users of the supplements in question.