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After several deaths in Japan believed to be linked to red yeast rice supplements, health authorities searched a factory owned by Japanese company Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. in Osaka. Kenji Yamashita, head of the Osaka-based company’s production department, apologized Saturday, according to local media reports, but declined to comment on details of the raid on the factory, which has been closed since December.

Because the company has moved production of the ingredients for its nutritional supplements to a factory in western Wakayama prefecture, a raid took place there on Sunday.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has so far reported five deaths and the admission of more than 110 people to hospitals. All of these cases may be related to the red yeast rice products. About 680 people had consulted a doctor about health problems or wanted to do so, it said.

The company had previously stated that puberulic acid, a natural substance from blue mold, had been found in the ingredients of the nutritional supplements and could be linked to the health problems. The substance is a substance that, according to the Ministry of Health, can be toxic, the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Saturday. (yam/sda/dpa)