#Okayama #Kousei Club #Red Koji #Factory Mold

Introduction

The controversy surrounding the health issues linked to Red Koji has taken a new twist as fresh insights emerge from documents released by the Osaka city government. The allegations suggested that mold present in the factory was responsible for the production of harmful substances, specifically puverulic acid. In a quest for clarity, Kousei Club Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Okayama Prefecture) formally inquired about the basis for these allegations, prompting a series of investigative documents.

Background of the Issue

Earlier in 2024, there were widespread reports claiming that blue mold, a type of fungus found in the factory, had contaminated Red Koji, leading to health damage. The Osaka city government had provided an explanation that linked the blue mold to the production of puverulic acid. However, Kousei Club sought to unearth the scientific basis behind this claim, particularly the nature of the investigations carried out that led to this conclusion.

Findings from Public Documents

According to the publicly released documents dated June 1, 2024, by Osaka city, the investigation results indicated several key points:
1. The samples inspected on July 17, 2024, were provided entirely by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. These included seven strains, six of blue mold (Penicillium adametzioides) and one strain of Red Koji (Monascus pilosus).
2. All samples explicitly indicated they were