Yellowed rice

Yellowed rice (also yellow rice, Japanese: 黄変米　Ouhenmai) refers to three kinds of rice grains tainted with different subspecies of mycotoxigenic Penicillium fungi. These three kinds of molded rice grains were identified in Japan more than a half century ago. The original “Yellowed rice” was discovered before World War II, and the relationship between molded rice and Shoshin-kakke(heart-attack paralysis) was elucidated. The other two kinds, “Islandia yellow rice” and “Citrinum yellow rice,” were discovered after World War II in imported rice grains in Japan. However, through collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts of Japanese researchers in identification of the causative substances, no human health problems were caused by “Islandia yellow rice” and “Citrinum yellow rice.”