Japan's "functional food labeling" system is facing public backlash after a health supplement recall linked to five deaths and over 100 illnesses has been criticized for undermining food safety management.
The Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has recalled multiple products, including the "Beni-koji choleste-help" supplement, marketed for cholesterol reduction, after its dietary supplements containing red yeast rice, or "beni-koji," were potentially linked to adverse health events.
Reports have emerged of five deaths and more than 100 hospitalizations related to these products, with nearly 700 individuals either seeking or intending to seek medical consultation as of last Friday.
This incident has raised significant concerns among the Japanese public over the country's classification of health-functional foods, particularly the labeling system introduced in 2015, suggesting it may favor corporate profits at the expense of consumer safety.
Before 2015, Japan categorized health-functional foods into two main groups: "Foods for Specified Health Uses" and "Nutrition Function Foods."
In 2015, the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of Japan launched the "Foods with Function Claims" (FFC) labeling initiative.
This new system permits companies like Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to independently evaluate and document the health benefits and functional attributes of their products prior to marketing, bypassing the need for approval from Japanese government authorities.
"The 'functional labeling food' by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical only requires submitting documents for registration, allowing the company to self-verify safety. This lacks objectivity and harbors risks. Health food should benefit the body. But if the ingredients are vague, without thorough investigation and analysis, similar issues could arise," said a Tokyo resident.
Another Tokyo resident criticized Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's operational practices.
"Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's management system is flawed. They might not have investigated initial reports seriously, leading to delayed public disclosure," he said.
Many have voiced concern that some major Japanese corporations put too much emphasis on economic gains at the expense of safety.
"As a leading pharmaceutical company in Japan, they capitalize on the public's concern for healthy living by marketing their products as 'beneficial to health' to maximize profits. This has led to oversights that jeopardize consumer health. Moreover, the national approval system has its shortcomings. It should not prioritize corporate profits over stringent scrutiny," said another Tokyo resident.
Supplement recall sparks concern over Japan's labeling system
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday strongly condemned the U.S. Department of the Treasury's decision to lift the temporary exemption from sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
In a statement, the ministry said the U.S. move "constitutes a flagrant violation of Paragraph 10 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Cessation of Hostilities, signed on June 18, 2026," adding that Iran "holds the U.S. government responsible for the consequences of this breach of faith."
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Tuesday revoked a license that had authorized the sale of Iranian-origin oil until August 21.
A new general license, titled "Revocation and Wind Down of June 21, 2026 Authorization for the Production, Delivery and Sale of Crude Oil, Petrochemical Products, and Petroleum Products of Iranian Origin," signed by OFAC Director Bradley Smith, became effective on Tuesday.
The new license requires that transactions authorized under the previous sanctions waiver wind down by July 17.
The U.S. side said the decision came after Iran's attack on three oil tankers near or in the Strait of Hormuz.
While revoking the waiver, the U.S. military announced Tuesday that it launched a series of powerful strikes against Iran in response to alleged attacks by Tehran on three commercial vessels.
"Less than 20 days after the signing of Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the U.S. announcement revoking the general license issued on June 21 once again exposes the ill intent, inconsistency, and unreliability of the U.S. administration," the Iranian foreign ministry charged in its statement.
It also accused the United States of repeatedly "committing violations, both major and minor, of various provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding."
While warning of the consequences of America's breach of faith, Iran "will take any action it deems necessary to safeguard its national interests and security," the ministry added.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi on Wednesday also denounced the U.S. move in a post on X.
"The United States' action in revoking the waiver for the exemption of sanctions on Iran's oil sales constitutes a blatant violation of Article 10, and the subsequent military operations of this country against Iran also constitute a serious violation of Article 1 and 2 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding," the post read.
The United States had waived sanctions on Iranian oil after the two parties signed a ceasefire Memorandum of Understanding in June. The waiver had allowed the import of Iranian crude to the United States and payment to Tehran in U.S. dollars, among other provisions.
Iran condemns US for revoking license authorizing sale of Iranian oil
