Thousands of Sake Bottles Recalled Over Pink Coloring Agent Linked to 166 Hospitalizations

(Photo: Takara Shuzo Co.)

Nearly 100,000 bottles of Mio Premium Rosé have been recalled across Japan, Singapore and Macau amidst an international health scare.

Produced by the Kyoto-based Takara Shuzo Co., the strawberry-flavored sparkling sake contains an ingredient known as beni-koji that was added to impart its signature light pink hue.

Commonly referred to as the “national mold” of Japan, koji is a type of fermented rice yeast used as the central ingredient in sake and shochu. The yeast comes in many forms, most of which are perfectly safe for human consumption.

However, beni-koji— otherwise known as red yeast mold — has recently been connected to a worrying upsurge in kidney failure. A beni-koji supplement sold by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. has been linked to 166 hospitalizations and a reported five deaths across Japan since the end of March. The supplement, which claimed to reduce cholesterol, has now been recalled.

Though no hospitalizations have been linked to Mio Premium Rosé, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has requested that all companies supplied with its beni-koji immediately recall the affected products. The drugmaker says it produces around 18.5 tons of beni-koji annually, 80% of which is supplied to 50 food and beverage companies.

In addition to Mio Premium Rosé, the recalled products include Zero Plus cheese rice crackers, Takeya miso paste, Kibun Foods salted squid product and Otsuka Foods fermented tofu.

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