Ajinomoto resumes production in East Java
Ajinomoto resumes production in East Java
MOJOKERTO, East Java (JP): Giant manufacturer of flavor
enhancer, PT Ajinomoto Indonesia, resumed production at its main
factory here on Thursday, following the issuance of a halal label
for its products by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) on Feb.
19.
"We welcome the decision of the authorities which enables the
production process to resume and for all employees to return to
work," Vice President Director and Factory Manager Y. Oda said in
a statement on Thursday.
A ceremony attended by MUI executives in East Java, including
chief Abu Somat Buchori, secretary-general Imam Wawardi, edict
commission chief Syaichul Hadi Permono, laboratory and research
chief Abdul Mudjid, and local military and police top officers
marked the resumption of the company's operation.
The factory has the capacity to produce 100 tons of flavor
enhancer daily and "hopefully will reach our customers soon", Oda
said.
None of the company's 1,600 employees resigned during the
process of regaining Ajinomoto's halal license, Oda added.
PT Ajinomoto applied for a halal label, which allows its
product to be consumed according to Islam, in a meeting with MUI
leaders on Jan. 30 after the council found the company had used
porcine enzyme in its MSG-making process.
Around 80 percent of the country's population of 210 million
are Muslim. Islamic law bans the consumption of pork or pork by-
products.
The furor caused Ajinomoto to suspend operation and withdraw a
total of 10,000 tons of its product from the market.
Ajinomoto said it has used mameno enzymes -- extracted from
soybeans -- as its catalyst, instead of the previous pork-based
bactosoytone enzyme, in producing MSG.
"We are thankful and touched that the production process has
started again smoothly," said Wiwik, a member of the production
staff who has worked for the company for 16 years.
Ajinomoto's management on Thursday "guaranteed that all of its
pork-tainted products will be recalled from the market and will
not be distributed in Indonesia." (edt)