The cumulative number of people hospitalized in connection with Kobayashi Pharmaceutical supplements that beni kо̄ji The number of red fermented rice was 492 on Sunday, the Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday.
Of these, 291 had kidney disease. The latest count included new cases who did not have kidney problems.
According to the ministry, a total of 2,221 people were examined in medical institutions on Sunday because of the supplements, including 1,660 kidney patients.
The number of deaths in which relatives reported a possible link to the supplements remained unchanged at 175.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said in March that five fatalities had been reported by relatives. But the company told the ministry last week that it had received consultations about 170 additional deaths that were possibly linked to its supplements.
The additional cases came to light as Kobayashi Pharmaceutical recorded new cases of people dying from causes other than kidney problems, the company said.
Of the 170 cases, 76 died after taking the supplements in question. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is currently investigating this in detail.
