Japanese drug maker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical firm said it is looking into the 76 more deaths linked to the consumption of its red yeast rice dietary supplements, local media reported on Friday.

The scandal-hit company previously confirmed in March that five people had died after taking the “beni-koji choleste help” supplements and recalled the products.

However, on Friday, it corrected the figure to four, saying one did not use the supplements, Kyodo News reported.

Meanwhile, Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Keizo Takemi revealed the drugmaker has failed to report to the government appropriately.

Referring to the surge in the number of cases, Mr Takemi said it was “extremely regrettable” that the company had not chosen to report to the ministry the updated number of suspected deaths since March.

Mr Takemi told reporters that the ministry will be directly involved in the investigating process and provide updates to the public, saying, “We cannot leave Kobayashi Pharmaceutical alone to handle it anymore.”

The health ministry has asked Kobayashi Pharmaceutical to formulate and submit a plan by Saturday to investigate the 76 deaths that remained under suspicion as health hazards to the families and medical institutions.

(Xinhua/NAN)