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"The total of 3,000 tons must be withdrawn while the rest of them has been exported," he said.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