TOKYO: Health problems linked to 18 food items with functional claims have been reported in Japan other than those allegedly caused by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. supplements, the government said Friday.

Health care workers reported 117 cases linked to the 18 items, such as diarrhea and eczema, according to the Consumer Affairs Agency.

Some cases resulted in hospitalization while there was no fatal case, the agency added.

The agency disclosed the information after a raft of reports of health problems, including deaths, suffered by users of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical supplement products containing “beni koji” red fermented rice.

In Japan, foods can be sold with functional claims if the business operators notify the agency.

This time, the agency surveyed 6,795 products with functional claims handled by 1,693 companies that had notified it as of March 22.

As of Thursday, the day before the deadline for responses, 11 out of 1,395 companies reported health damage cases. The surveyed products included 1,637 items that had not been sold.

The 11 companies concluded that there would be no need to report the health problems to the agency.

An agency official said that the health damage numbers “are not surprising” because it is inevitable that there are some reports if many people consume such products.

The agency will examine whether the 11 companies’ decisions were appropriate and whether it is necessary to improve related guidelines, the official added.

JIJI Press