The Ajinomoto case<\/p>\n
Thank the holiday season and the good sense of all the parties
\ninvolved for the fact that, for once, an argument involving
\nreligious principles did not get blown out of proportion and
\nprompt street protests.<\/p>\n
The argument, this time, involves the Indonesian Council of
\nUlemas (MUI) on one side and PT Ajinomoto, the producer of the
\nwidely popular taste enhancer of the same name on the other. It
\nconcerns the question of whether the product is halal or haram to
\nMuslims -- in other words whether Muslims are allowed or
\nforbidden to use it in their food.<\/p>\n
Guardian of religious morality and fidelity in a country where
\nthe overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim, the
\nCouncil is empowered by the government to review the halal
\ncertificates which must be stamped on the packages of all food
\nand beverage products that are sold in this country and which
\nMuslims are allowed to consume. Since producers may change the
\ningredients contained in their products, these certificates are
\nreviewed every two years.<\/p>\n
What the Council says it has found in this year's re-audit of
\nthe Ajinomoto taste enhancer is that the company is now using the
\nbactosoytone pig enzyme in its production process instead of the
\npolypeptone enzyme it used in the past. The reason is that while
\nboth enzymes can be used as a medium to cultivate the bacteria
\nneeded to produce the compounds necessary for the production of
\nthe enhancer, the bactosoytone enzyme produces more bacteria and
\nthus also more compounds. Some experts have argued that this is
\nnot really a problem since the pig enzyme does not actually get
\ninto the product. It is used only to grow the bacteria and is not
\nincluded in the bacteria.<\/p>\n
This, however, is not an argument that Muslims can generally
\naccept. \"Who can guarantee that?\" MUI chairman Amidhan retorted.
\n\"It is like growing plants on filth.\" Since pork and any product
\nderived from pigs, Amidhan insists that the company takes its
\nproduct off the shelves until a new product is brought on the
\nmarket that is free of any derivative coming from pigs.<\/p>\n
The government, through the Ministry of Health's Director-
\nGeneral for Food and Drug Control, Sampurno, has taken a middle
\nroad and advised the public not to jump to conclusions.<\/p>\n
\"This needs to be examined further through biochemical
\nanalysis. This is a sensitive issue and we shouldn't jump to
\nconclusions and condemn the product,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indeed it is sensitive -- the issue involves major religious
\nprinciples. In Amidhan's words, while there is still no
\nconclusive evidence, the case is classified as dubious, and in
\nIslam, things that are dubious or doubtful had better be
\nforbidden.<\/p>\n
For the government, on the other hand, the issue concerns a
\nproduct that is popular throughout the country and banning it
\ncould have major economic consequences, both for the company and
\nfor the state. Thus, it is important to tread carefully.
\nFortunately, the Ajinomoto company has had the good sense to pay
\nserious heed to the MUI's demands, thereby avoiding a possible
\nconfrontation. It has changed its bacterium growing medium to a
\nplant derivative while promising to withdraw its dubious products
\nfrom the market.<\/p>\n
What all this has shown us is how lax, or weak, the Ministry
\nof Health's Food and Drug Control Directorate-General's control
\nis over products being consumed by the Indonesian people. In this
\nparticular case the government agency should have issued an early
\nwarning to the Ajinomoto company not to use bacteria breeding
\nagents that could offend Muslims, who after all make up the
\noverwhelming majority of this country's population.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-ajinomoto-case-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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