The Region - News from June 7, 1987

A company that sold a food supplement made from a Japanese mushroom was charged with promoting the product as a treatment for AIDS and other illnesses. The state of California sued Ishii Enterprises Group of Los Angeles for making “untrue and misleading” statements about its food supplement, C-KIN, made from shitake mushrooms, which are often used in Japanese cuisine. The action, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, said Ishii promoted the substance for the treatment of cancer, AIDS, leukemia, herpes, ulcers, high cholesterol, hypertension, kidney stones, arthritis, acute allergies, acne, hangovers and other illnesses. Deputy Dist. Atty. Louis Ito said such claims are widely accepted in Japan. “But just because it is accepted in a foreign country, doesn’t mean it can pass muster here,” he said.