In its renewed awareness drive, West African Seasoning Company Limited (WASCO), makers of AJI-NO-MOTO food seasoning product, has taken its safety campaign on the food seasoning to Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN).
WASCO has continued to use various platforms including engagement with key stakeholders in the medical profession, food science and technology, women groups, traditional rulers among others, to raise awareness about the safety of the Japanese Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) food seasoning.
According to the company, based on its safety, AJI-NO-MOTO which has been in existence for over 100 years is consumed in over 130 countries by enhancing taste and increasing deliciousness of food.
Speaking at the 10th Annual Symposium/Award Ceremony of the association held in Lagos recently, Isah Hassan Shallangwa, WASCO’s head of marketing in his presentation, provided more safety facts about umami seasoning and gave reasons why Nigerians should not entertain any fear consuming it.
“The benefits of the seasoning include enhancing and promoting the deliciousness of our meals; it is economical; it reduces salt intake and it is rich in glutamate one of the free amino acids. Almost all seasoning contains MSG,” Shallangwa said.
He told the health writers drawn from the print, broadcast and online media that contrary to negative rumours, AJI-NO-MOTO is 100 per cent safe for human consumption.
Shallangwa at the symposium themed “Curbing the High Rate of Brain Drain in the Nigerian Health Sector”, assured the journalists that the safety of the product had long been scientifically proven and its safety approved by authorized agencies of the United Nations.
He said WASCO was committed to bringing out the natural taste in cooking through safe and cost-effective seasonings, urging them to dispel any myth or misconception about aji-no-moto through their write-ups.
“Umami substance is present in most natural foods such as meat, seafood, vegetables, cheese and milk. Glutamate is also abundant in breast milk. Umami seasoning enhances the taste of dishes and is a universal taste. It is one of the five basic tastes along with sweet, sour, salty and bitter. We have a lot of glutamate in our local foods. Iru, for instance, is umami. When you take Iru, you take a lot of glutamates”he explained.
He added that AJI-NO-MOTO is simply made from sugarcane through the natural process of fermentation.
Also speaking, WASCO’s Corporate Communication Officer, Mrs. Francisca Ikediashi, urged the heath writers to ignore rumours about the seasoning and work with facts and not rumours.
She commended members of the association for the engagement and promised that the company remained committed working with them in making AJI-NO-MOTO a household name in food seasoning in Nigeria.
Chioma Obinna president of HEWAN, in her response, commended WASCO for supporting and contributing to the success of this year’s symposium, assuring that members of the association would continue to provide consumers with factual information about the product through their stories.
“This awareness is a welcome development. A lot of our members have today been sensitised about the safety of your product. Now that the company has partnered with us for awareness creation, we are very happy. It is now our duty to take the information to the public,” she said.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
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