New Allegations Emerge in Kobayashi Red Koji Incident: Test Strain Differs from Product

On June 16, 2026, Kunsai Club Co., Ltd. announced an objection regarding the "Yoshinari et al. 2025" paper published by the National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS). This paper is related to the ongoing investigation into health damages caused by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast rice supplements.

Discrepancy Between Test Strain and Product Strain

The core of this objection is the claim that the red yeast rice strain used in the co-culture test within the NIHS Yoshinari paper is not the actual product strain BP-412 found in the problematic "Beni Koji Choleste Help" supplement. Kunsai Club Co., Ltd. points out that this difference could affect the reliability of the test and the interpretation of its results.

Implications for Future Investigations

If this allegation proves true, it would necessitate a more detailed investigation into the cause of the health damages associated with red yeast rice supplements. If the strain used in testing differs from the actual product, questions will arise about whether the test results accurately reflect the mechanism of the health issues. Further investigations and information disclosure from relevant authorities are eagerly awaited.