Ajinomoto given 3 week deadline to withdraw products

Ajinomoto given 3 week deadline to withdraw products

JAKARTA (JP): PT Ajinomoto Indonesia have been given a three-
week deadline to withdraw all of its products which contain
monosodium glutamate (MSG) from store shelves following findings
that it used substances derived from pigs in the process of
making the product.

The Ministry of Health's Directorate General of Food and Drug
Control Sampurno announced the government's position Wednesday
afternoon after earlier consulting with the Indonesian Ulemas
Council (MUI), the council's Food and Drug Analysis Body (LPPOM
MUI), the Ministry of Religious Affairs and PT Ajinomoto.

Taste enhancer Ajinomoto's halal status, or permission to be
eaten by Muslims, are in question after LPPOM MUI found evidence
that, since October, PT Ajinomoto Indonesia had controversially
changed the MSG production process raising debate on the use of
pig enzymes.

Islam bans pork or any by-product derived from pigs.

The findings were a bombshell as Ajinomoto is one of the most
widely used taste enhancers in the market.

Until late Wednesday evening, PT Ajinomoto directors were said
to be in a meeting and could not be reached for comment.

But earlier on Tuesday, the company's Manager of General
Affairs and Personnel Department Tjokorda Bagus Sudarta said that
the company bows to MUI's demand and will withdraw the product.

Tjokorda admitted that they had used bactosoytone, extracted
from pork, in place of polypeptone, which is extracted from beef,
as a medium to cultivate bacteria which produces enzymes needed
in the production of the taste enhancer.

"The reason was because it was more economical. But we used it
only as a medium. So, it's not included in the final product," he
told The Jakarta Post.

Sampurno agreed that the final product or MSG, is actually
halal because it no longer has that particular substance.

"But based on MUI's guidance, the use of pork products is
forbidden," he said.

According to Sampurno, the production between October to
November yielded 10,000 tons of Ajinomoto taste enhancer, of
which 7,000 tons were exported.

"The total of 3,000 tons must be withdrawn while the rest of
them has been exported," he said.

PT Ajinomoto, he added, has also changed bactosoytone with
another substance called mameno, which is derived from soybeans,
since November.

"The products which uses mameno has already been in the
market. But instead of confusing people, we demand the withdrawal
of all of the products," Sampurno said.

Within two weeks, he said, PT Ajinomoto will present a report
about the withdrawal of its product.

"I don't think they will dare to keep the products and change
the packaging," Sampurno responded when asked of the possibility
that the company could repackage the contents using a different
name.

Instead of destroying the products, Sampurno said, the
products will be exported as Ajinomoto also sells it products in
other countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.

According to Sampurno, Malaysia's sentiments regarding the
issue are not certain. "We asked for their opinion, but they
haven't answered yet," he said.(hdn)