TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese health officials searched a Kobayashi Pharmaceutical factory on Saturday after the drugmaker reported five deaths possibly linked to dietary supplements using red yeast rice, an official said.

       The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the City of Osaka jointly inspected the factory in Osaka that had made the supplements containing "Beni-Koji" red yeast, suspected of having caused health damage, the ministry official said.

       News footage showed officials entering the factory, and the official said the ministry could search other related locations.

       The Osaka-based company could not immediately be reached for comment.

       Playback speed

       1x Normal

       Quality

       Auto

       Back

       360p

       Auto

       Back

       0.25x

       0.5x

       1x Normal

       1.5x

       2x

       /

       Skip

       Ads by

       Kobayashi said on Friday it was investigating a suspected link between the products and their effects on the kidney since it received reports of kidney disease linked to the products.

       As of Thursday evening, 114 people had been hospitalised and five had died after taking the supplements, which were marketed as helping lower cholesterol levels, according to the company.

       Kobayashi said it is examining the earnings impact of the latest issues.

       StarPicks

       IWD: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER

       The company has been recalling products with Beni-Koji in recent days after receiving reports of kidney ailments.

       A Chinese consumers association urged consumers to stop using affected products, saying it was concerned about the risk of Kobayashi products, state media reported on Friday.

       Beni-Koji contains Monascus purpureus, a red mould that is also used as a red colouring in some foods.

       (This story has been refiled to add the dropped word 'a' in paragraph 1)

       (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by William Mallard)