S’pore Recalls Sake That Has Ingredients That Are Potentially Linked to Hospitalizations in Japan

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) announced on Tuesday, 26 March, the recall of two products containing red yeast rice.

This decision came in the wake of a health scare in Japan, where health supplements containing the same ingredient were pulled from the shelves due to suspected health risks.

The recalled products, Mio Sparkling Sake Premium (Rose) in 300ml and 750ml bottles, were voluntarily recalled by their manufacturer, Takara Shuzo International, in Japan, prompting similar actions in Singapore.

Investigation Following Serious Health Complaints

The concern over red yeast rice, known as “beni koji,” escalated after Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, a Japanese drugmaker, linked the ingredient to severe health issues.

On Tuesday, the company reported it was investigating a death and multiple hospitalizations connected to a health supplement containing red yeast rice.

The deceased suffered kidney damage believed to be associated with consuming the supplement for several years.

The company has voluntarily recalled products, including those labeled as beneficial for lowering cholesterol, and is investigating the causal relationship between the supplement ingestion and the reported deaths.

The incident has led to emergency checks on various food products, affecting a wide range of items such as sake, confectionery, bread, and miso, which contain the ingredient beni-koji.

The company is urging consumers not to use the affected products and is offering refunds while expanding nationwide recalls.

Concerns have been raised about the possibility of citrinin, a toxic substance that can lead to kidney disease, being produced during the fermentation process of beni-koji; however, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has stated that their ingredient does not contain citrinin

Safety Measures and Consumer Advice

As a precautionary step, the SFA has directed Pan Pacific Retail Management (Singapore), the importer of the affected products, to conduct a recall.

This process is currently underway. The agency has strongly advised consumers who have purchased the implicated products to refrain from consuming them.

Additionally, those who have consumed the products and are experiencing health issues should immediately seek medical attention.

The products under recall are identified by the date markings of 2023.02 and 2023.01, with Jancodes 4904670227605 and 4904670227636, respectively.