As part of boosting demand of its product in the south-west geo-political zone of the country, management of West African Seasoning Company Limited (WASCO), makers of AJI-NO-MOTO food seasoning product , has taken its safety awareness campaign on the food seasoning to the Home Economics Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (HETAN).
Speaking at the 46th Annual National Conference of the association held in Akure, Ondo State capital recently, WASCO management led by the General Manager, Sales Marketing, Mr. Ebebe Amachigh, said AJI-NO-MOTO Umami seasoning which is also known as Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), is safe for consumption.
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 taste of dishes and is a universal taste
Amachigh, who represented the Managing Director of the company at the conference tagged, “ The role of Home Economics Education in addressing emerging challenges on security matters and unemployment in Nigeria through entrepreneurial activities”, assured the teachers that the safety of the product had long been scientifically proven and its safety approved by authorized agencies of the United Nations.
He told the teachers drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that the company was committed to bringing out natural taste in cooking through safe and cost effective seasonings, urging them to dispel any myth or misconception about AJI-NO-MOTO.
“ 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 taste of dishes and is a universal taste. It is one of the five basic tastes along with sweet, sour, salty and bitter. AJI-NO-MOTO is simply made from sugarcane through the natural process of fermentation”, he explained.
Addressing the home economics teachers numbering over 700 , Amachigh noted that based on its safety, AJI-NO-MOTO was consumed in over 130 countries, adding that the usage of MSG was to enhance taste and also increase deliciousness of food.
Refuting rumours about the seasoning in his presentation titled, ” MSG: Myths & Scientific facts”, Prof. Abiodun Sanni of the Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, asked the teachers to work with facts and not rumours, stressing that glutamate has no health issues as purported in some quarters.
Affirming the safety of glutamate, Sanni who is a Professor of Microbiology, said: “MSG produces unique and fifth taste known as umami. We have a lot of glutamate in our local foods. Iru for instance is umami. When you take Iru, you take a lot of glutamate. Sugar is a natural product. So, people should debunk the rumours about glutamate. The human body metabolises both the natural and added glutamate in the same manner.”
Also , WASCO’s Head of Marketing, Mr. Isah Hassan Shallangwa, in his presentation, provided more safety facts about AJI -NO-MOTO umami seasoning and gave reasons why Nigerians should embrace 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.
In his remarks, Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, Mr. Femi Agagu, commended WASCO management for supporting the teachers and for coming to educate the women on the safety of its product.
Agagu while commenting on the importance of entrepreneurship education, affirmed that exposing students early to the opportunities provided by entrepreneurship was critical to solving the problem of joblessness among the youths in Nigeria,
Earlier in a welcome address, President of HETAN, Hajia Rabiat Ibrahim, commended WASCO for supporting the conference through Ajinomoto, urging the company to come up with cooking competition in secondary schools to further boost the cooking skills of the
girls.
