5 Dead and Over 100 Hospitalized From Recalled Japanese Health Supplements

TOKYO—Five people who took a Japanese health supplement have died and more than 100 have been hospitalized as of Friday, a week after a pharmaceutical company issued a recall of the products, officials said. Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. came under fire for not going public quickly with problems known internally as early as January. The first public announcement came March 22. Earlier in the week, the number of deaths stood at two people. Company officials updated the number of dead to five Friday, and said 114 people were being treated in hospitals after taking products—including Benikoji Choleste Help meant to lower cholesterol—that contain an ingredient called benikoji, a red species of mold....