Top execs resign at Japanese supplement firm linked to dozens of deaths

For as little meaning as apologetic bowing has in Japan, they should start showing your their backside when doing it (bare_ssed).

This is also responsible to politics.

10 years before, risk of "Nutritional Functional Supplements" system had already cautioned from opposition lawmaker of JCP at the Diet. But the then Abe government ignored its caution, prioritized to benefit corporations than safety of citizen, and caused victim.

As ever, LDP politicians who feel nothing to deaths of citizen don't take responsibility and not even apologize.

For most people, high cholesterol, even high LDL, is not a problem.

That is false and obviously contrary to what the medical professionals recommend to avoid risks, the lie is being propagated by people that profit from rejecting scientific knowledge and misleading the public to do the same. As soon as any scientific evidence is asked about this claim (specially epidemiological studies that refute the solid conclusions that say high levels of LDL are a problem) the same people will immediately use excuses and conspiracies to "explain" why there is no such evidence.

I agree, but pharmaceutical products are heavily regulated by regulators that can be bought off, and the multitrillionaire pharma industry can get away with the false claim that regulated and approved means safe.

Not as a rule and only for limited time because the evidence is there for anybody to examine, which ends up with serious consequences, the multitrillionare supplement industry don't have to worry about that, because they are not even required to show any effectiveness and only the barely minimum of safety. Requiring the same standards for both is the only logical and appropriate thing to do, but people are just too easily fooled by the lie of "natural is safe" so regulators can be systematically bought to pretend there is no need.

That is the thing, supplements are poorly regulated and allowed to be sold without any of the controls and tests that are required from pharmaceutical products, which means that these kind of problems and fatal victims are recurrent and will keep happening just because the multibillionaire supplement industry can get away with the false claim that natural means safe.

I agree, but pharmaceutical products are heavily regulated by regulators that can be bought off, and the multitrillionaire pharma industry can get away with the false claim that regulated and approved means safe.

Just as a warning but these tablets are aimed at lowering cholesterol. Last week, my wife mistakenly bought a large bag of what she thought was shredded cheese. The product looks identical to cheese but is called "low cholesterol shred" in katakana. It is actually fake cheese made with starch and vegetable oil. It is easily the worst tasting food we have bought in years. It is sold right next to actual cheese in the regular cabinet in a normal supermarket. Do not mistakenly buy this product. I would happily put the remaining 90% of the packet straight in the bin.

I always make an effort to avoid the low or no cholesterol versions, but I recently made the same mistake as your wife. I agree no cholesterol cheese tastes awful, and is likely much less healthy than regular cheese.

For most people, high cholesterol, even high LDL, is not a problem. I make no effort to limit my cholesterol consumption. Perhaps if less people were brainwashed into fearing cholesterol, less people would have purchased the red yeast rice, and less (or no) people would have died....

Medical studies say it can improve cholesterol levels but also warn of a risk of organ damage depending on the ingredient's chemical make-up.

It could improve cholesterol levels, but that is not likely (at least not to a degree that would make a difference clinically) unless it is purified and concentrated to a stable dosage, unfortunately the risks that come with the supplement are much easier to get.

I can't even buy any Pharmaceutical products at the local drug store without and age or ID check, and NO self service check out for any of these products, so how did this company managed to get the approval to sell it's products over the counter, this is what needs to be investigated, Who got paid to make this happen???

That is the thing, supplements are poorly regulated and allowed to be sold without any of the controls and tests that are required from pharmaceutical products, which means that these kind of problems and fatal victims are recurrent and will keep happening just because the multibillionaire supplement industry can get away with the false claim that natural means safe. People may remember this is completely false for a few months, but after that business as usual until the next lethal scandal happens.

No amount of punishment for the companies is going to solve this, what is necessary is for supplements to be treated as every other medical intervention and be allowed to be sold only if they pass proper tests of safety and efficacy. Unfortunately this is not going to happen anytime soon.

bowing is over lets go back to business and start to annoy TV viewers with your annoying ads.

as soon as 1-2-3

Is anyone interested in a good on a case of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical products? Looking to move these ASAP. Cash only. No refunds.

The government and company investigations have not finished.

Hopefully the victims’ families will put together a class action lawsuit and suck this company dry.

Executives losing jobs is in no way a deterrent to other companies that produce dangerous products. More like an inducement.

Aside from the actual danger of their product, these people, and many others, are guilty of spreading the myth that health is just about doing whatever you want and then popping some magic snake oil pill that will solve all your problems. Don't do exercise, don't eat healthily, don't get enough sleep, just pay 6000 yen a month for our pills and you will be genki!

Just as a warning but these tablets are aimed at lowering cholesterol. Last week, my wife mistakenly bought a large bag of what she thought was shredded cheese. The product looks identical to cheese but is called "low cholesterol shred" in katakana. It is actually fake cheese made with starch and vegetable oil. It is easily the worst tasting food we have bought in years. It is sold right next to actual cheese in the regular cabinet in a normal supermarket. Do not mistakenly buy this product. I would happily put the remaining 90% of the packet straight in the bin.

Resign to take responsibility? Translation: Running away from the heat. How about staying to fix the problem? That's taking responsibility. (If there's an actual crime involved don't let them resign, fire them.)

80 deaths and no one goes to jail. Ghosen escaped and they still want him back in jail. This is why Japan can't be taken seriously

Too little, too late. Zero sense of responsibility, just face-saving at this point. At least the blood of eighty souls on their hands.

Does resigning mean they will not face criminal charges?

Oh well, just a little Bow and all is forgiven, these executives are criminals, no more, no less, they put these unsafe products on the market and did not give a da**. They will not lose their well paid jobs, and will receive very generous bonuses, and will be able to retire with no pain of a guilty conscience.......Oh, but they have already bowed in public, so no guilt is necessary, just move on. And yet another case of the Japanese prosecutors doing a wonderful job...../s

People blindly believe and these companies are taking advantage of that .Most prob loads more we haven't heard about yet

I can't even buy any Pharmaceutical products at the local drug store without and age or ID check, and NO self service check out for any of these products, so how did this company managed to get the approval to sell it's products over the counter, this is what needs to be investigated, Who got paid to make this happen???

Where are the Prosecutors???

Bit late now. They should have acted when they found out their company was producing dangerous and deadly products- instead of covering things up. It will be good if many employees are jailed.

Hopefully Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals is now wound up permanently.

RIP to the many victims of these horrible people.

That is a lot of dead people. You have to wonder how many more may have been affected to a lesser extent or who have not connected illness to these products.

Japan needs clear blue water between pharma products that undergo appropriate internationally-recognised testing and popular folk remedies that have been around since the Edo period. They shouldn't be next to each other on pharmacy shelves, either.

Lmao, what a time to be alive.

So...if I'm ever forced to face jail time. I can just quit my job instead??

Yup. They bowed.

Over. Done With. Gone.

Moving on...

TV news already said that they will remain on the board, so these guys will collect their severance package and sit back nice and easy.

In this case there were resignations. Should these guys be given the head chop? Is bowing (in addition to resigning) bad? Every thing Japan. Nothing can satisfy the anti-Japanese posters. Bandwagons everywhere.

As a direct result of their criminal negligence, many people are now dead. And yet all these corporate clowns have got to say for themselves is how extremely regrettable. Their only real regret is that they were caught and that it may, although even that’s unlikely, affect their retirement plans. Extremely irresponsible or blameworthy would’ve been closer to the mark, but nah, not for them the gold standard of contrition.

Should at least be 'Dogeza' position, on their knees with forehead on the floor to demonstrate sincerity.

Even execs from a foreign drug maker managed that years ago.

Resign? Usually bowing is more than enough in Japan.

Wow, hope the prosecutors get moving and start making dozen’s of arrests, and rearrests

quickly. Nah, who am I kidding……?