Japanese officials inspect 2 factories making health supplements linked to 5 deaths

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese government health officials on Sunday inspected a factory producing health supplements linked to at least five deaths and the hospitalization of more than 100 others, one day after the authorities investigated another plant that manufactured the product.

A team of 17 health officials from the central and prefectural governments raided a plant operated by the Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co.'s subsidiary in Kinokawa, in the western Japanese prefecture of Wakayama, under the food sanitation act. NHK public television showed the officials walk into the factory.

The Wakayama plant took over the production of the supplements after Kobayashi Pharmaceutical closed another plant in nearby Osaka, which authorities searched on Saturday, NHK said.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical spokesperson Yuko Tomiyama told reporters that the company is fully cooperating in the investigation.

The company says little is known about the exact cause of the sicknesses, which include kidney failure.

The supplements being investigated all used “benikoji,” a kind of red mold, including Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals’ pink pills called Benikoji Choleste Help, which were billed as helping lower cholesterol levels.

The Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said about a million packages were sold over the past three fiscal years. It also sold benikoji to other manufacturers, and some products have been exported. The supplements could be bought at drug stores without a prescription from a doctor.

Reports of health problems surfaced in 2023, although benikoji has been used in various products for years.

The recall came March 22, two months after the company had received official medical reports about the problem. Company president Akihiro Kobayashi has apologized for not having acted sooner.

On Friday, the company said five people had died and 114 people were being treated in hospitals after taking the products.

Japan's health ministry says the supplements could be responsible for the deaths and illnesses, and warned that the number of those affected could grow. The government has ordered a review of the approval system in response to the supplement-related illnesses.

Some analysts blame the recent deregulation initiatives, which simplified and sped up approval for health products to spur economic growth. Deaths from a mass-produced item is rare in Japan, as government checks over consumer products are relatively stringent.

This story corrects a previous version that said the supplements caused the deaths and illnesses, according to authorities. Japanese health authorities suspect the supplements are the cause, but have not yet made a determination.

AP writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report.

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Akihiro Kobayashi, president of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., arrives at a news conference in Osaka, western Japan, Friday, March 29, 2024. In the week since a line of Japanese health supplements began being recalled, several people have died and more than 100 people were hospitalized as of Friday. The Osaka-based pharmaceutical company came under fire for not going public quickly with problems known internally as early as January. The first public announcement came March 22. (Yohei Fukuyama/Kyodo News via AP)

An employee of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. speaks to media members outside a plant operated by its subsidiary after Japan's health ministry officials walked into the plant to conduct an on-site inspection in Kinokawa, south of Osaka, western Japan, Sunday, March 31, 2024. Japanese government health officials on Sunday inspected the factory producing health supplements linked to several deaths and the hospitalization of more than 100 others, one day after the authorities investigated another plant that manufactured the product. (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's health ministry officials walk into a plant operated by a subsidiary of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. to conduct an on-site inspection in Kinokawa, south of Osaka, western Japan, Sunday, March 31, 2024. Japanese government health officials on Sunday inspected a factory producing health supplements linked to several deaths and the hospitalization of more than 100 others, one day after the authorities investigated another plant that manufactured the product. (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's health ministry officials walk towards a plant operated by a subsidiary of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. to conduct an on-site inspection in Kinokawa, south of Osaka, western Japan, Sunday, March 31, 2024. Japanese government health officials on Sunday inspected a factory producing health supplements linked to several deaths and the hospitalization of more than 100 others, one day after the authorities investigated another plant that manufactured the product. (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News via AP)

A worker, left, for Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. stands as media members gather before Japan's health ministry officials arrive to conduct an on-site inspection at its plant in Osaka, western Japan, Saturday, March 30, 2024. Japanese government health officials raided a factory Saturday producing health supplements that they say have killed multiple people and hospitalized more than 100 others. (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's health ministry officials walk towards the Osaka plant of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. to conduct an on-site inspection in Osaka, western Japan, Saturday, March 30, 2024. Japanese government health officials raided a factory Saturday producing health supplements that they say have killed multiple people and hospitalized more than 100 others.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Gunnar Henderson's fourth leadoff homer of the season sparked a five-run first inning that backed an effective pitching performance by John Means and carried the Baltimore Orioles past the Seattle Mariners 9-2 Friday night.

After Henderson's 13th home run — tied with Houston's Kyle Tucker and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani for the major league lead — Baltimore's next five batters reached base against Bryce Miller (3-4). A throwing error by shortstop Dylan Moore let in a run and Colton Cowser followed a walk with a two-run double down the right-field line.

The first out was a sacrifice fly by Jordan Westburg that capped the outburst.

“It was great to jump on them right away and get a bunch of runs there in the first inning," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “It was nice to be able to pitch with a little bit of a lead.”

In his previous start against Seattle, Means threw a no-hitter on May 5, 2021. In this one, Moore doubled on the first pitch of the game and scored on a single by Mitch Garver.

But Means (2-0) settled down in his third start since opening the season on the injured list with a left forearm strain. The left-hander allowed two runs and six hits, walked none and struck out four over six innings.

“I thought Means battled,” Hyde said. “He didn't have his best fastball command, but that changeup is so good and he got some curveballs in. He kept them off balance that way.”

The Mariners were playing catchup before Miller retired one Baltimore batter.

“They jumped on us early tonight,” manager Scott Servais said. “Bryce had good stuff, but the execution wasn't great there in the first inning. You've got to give Baltimore credit. They came out, they were swinging and they were on the heater.”

By winning the opener of the three-game set, the Orioles are assured of completing their 106th consecutive regular-season series without being swept. That's the third-longest streak in major league history, behind only the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124) and 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115).

Miller rebounded from his poor start to keep the Orioles in check until he was lifted with one out in the sixth. He got some help from center fielder Julio Rodríguez, who reached over the wall to make a leaping catch and rob Anthony Santander of a solo shot earlier in the inning.

Baltimore pulled away with a four-run seventh. Jorge Mateo tripled and scored on a triple by Henderson before Adley Rutschman and Austin Hays hit successive RBI doubles..

“I thought we had a chance to creep back into it, but we couldn't hold them down in the seventh inning,” Servais said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mariners: Garver returned after missing two games with back spasms. ... SS J.P. Crawford (oblique strain) was hit on his right hand by a pitch during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma, which will likely delay his return from the IL. “He does not have a fracture, but he's got some swelling going on,” Servais said. ... 2B Jorge Polanco missed a third straight game with hamstring tightness.

Orioles: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) is poised to come off the injured list, Hyde said. When that happens, Hyde said the Orioles will move to a six-man rotation to help negotiate a stretch in which they are scheduled to play 30 games in 31 days, beginning with this series against Seattle.

UP NEXT

A rainy weather forecast looms for Saturday's game, which matches Seattle's Luis Castillo (4-5, 3.31 ERA) against a Baltimore starter that Hyde would not disclose. Castillo is 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA over his last five starts.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore gestures after hitting a double against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means throws to a Seattle Mariners batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore is congratulated for his home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means throws to a Seattle Mariners batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman, right, high-fives Anthony Santander (25) after scoring against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson, center, celebrates with Adley Rutschman, left, and Ryan O'Hearn (32) after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)