Working for 'Life'

By: Katsuaki Ogawa, President, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation

There is no question that it is essential for humans to live a healthy life, but to do so means making conscious efforts to achieve proper nutrition. The same spirit has been the driving force in Ajinomoto Group's global business for more than a hundred years.

The discovery of AJI-NO-MOTO Umami Seasoning in 1908 is attributed to the zealous ambition of the chemist, Professor Kikunae Ikeda. His desire to improve digestion and the absorption of nutrients by enhancing the taste of foods led to the discovery of umami, the fifth basic taste. This breakthrough not only founded a multi-billion dollar umami seasoning business but sparked advancements in amino science invaluable to food nutrition, clinical healthcare and animal nutrition among others. For more than a century, the Ajinomoto Group still operates with the same passion that drove Professor Ikeda's vision.

The Ajinomoto Group aspires to resolve fundamental issues such as securing food resources, satisfying the desire for good health and nutrition, and protecting the environment. The company's philosophy is to "create better lives globally by contributing to significant advances in Food and Health and by working for Life" and this is practiced at the core of our business in our values which we call "The Ajinomoto Group Way".

In the Philippines, the 51-year operation of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION (APC) is built on a foundation of our deep understanding of the Filipino people, culture and cuisine. Here, our flagship product AJI-NO-MOTO Umami Seasoning is considered to be one of the basic Filipino seasonings. Our products find their ways to many households because they provide Filipino consumers with delicious meals for better nutrition at a fraction of their budgets. We also brought Ajinomoto GINISA to the local market as a result of understanding the importance of the “gisa" process to most Filipino dishes. This product was the first to capture the real "gisa" taste in Filipino cuisine. In the same manner, our CRISPY FRY Breading Mix was borne from our understanding of the Filipinos' preference for crispiness. APC's products and services cater to the needs and tastes of every Filipino.

Our zeal for quality and safety is unrelenting and constant. Unfortunately, our core product, monosodium glutamate or MSG, has been falsely and unfairly tagged with persisting rumors, urban legends and myths. Ridiculous accusations arose and have evolved over time even without solid or credible scientific evidence, despite the fact that MSG is the most researched food ingredient in the world! The truth is MSG originated from and is widely used by my country (Japan), which also happens to have a population with one of the longest life span on this planet. For over a hundred years, it has been used globally, with various regulatory and scientific bodies confirming that MSG is indeed safe for human consumption. What many people do not know is that MSG is actually good for the body. It is a scientific fact that the umami taste from glutamate triggers the process of protein digestion and that glutamate is necessary for the intestines to function properly in order to absorb nutrients from food. It is also interesting to note that MSG has only 30% of the sodium content of table salt and since much less MSG is necessary to make food more appetizing than table salt, MSG can actually help to reduce one's sodium intake. Given the undeniable scientific proof, numerous partners, friends and supporters have backed us up in bringing to light the safe and excellent quality of our products.

Moreover, it is from one discovery of a single amino acid, glutamatic acid, providing umami taste, that the Ajinomoto Group has engaged in the furthering of amino science research. As a leading Amino Science company and driven by the desire to improve the quality of life, the corporation extended its business beyond food to include pharmaceutical applications of amino acids as well as animal nutrition. As a matter of fact, the Ajinomoto Group was the first company to develop amino acid products to aid in the smoother and faster recovery of post-operative surgical patients.

As we greet the next 100 years with great joy and excitement, our challenge lies in educating future generations to pursue our cause in improving human health and well-being. To this end, the Ajinomoto Group has sponsored the rise of the Mind Museum in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City for the year 2011. Through multimedia and interactive displays, the project aspires to provide a venue that can help improve the quality of science education among Filipino children. Likewise, the Ajinomoto Post-Graduate Scholarship grant offers qualified foreign graduates from ASEAN countries including the Philippines, a broader opportunity for higher education in Tokyo, Japan. These initiatives, along with our other local CSR programs, are our way of ensuring future solutions for global issues in health and nutrition.

I have been with the Ajinomoto Group for 28 years and the president of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION for over a year. Even now, I still feel the burning passion that once inspired Professor Ikeda. For me, I feel fulfilled in my work every single day with the complete knowledge and understanding that here at Ajinomoto, we are truly working for 'life'.