WASCO: MSG is 100% Safe for Consumption ...Unveils Helen Paul, Miyonse as Brand Ambassadors

Head of Marketing, WASCO Ajinomoto, Mr. Isa Hassan Shallangwa; General Manager, African Business Development, WASCO Ajinomoto, Mr. Sato Takashi; Ajinomoto Brand Influencer, Miyonse Amosu; Ajinomoto Brand Ambassador, Helen Paul and Managing Director, WASCO Ajinomoto, Mr. Junichi Niki during the unveiling of Brand Ambassadors and factory tour recently in Lagos

West African Seasoning Company Limited (WASCO), an affiliate of the AJINOMOTO Group, has reiterated its commitment to promoting healthy living with its offerings of monosodium glutamate MSG content.
Contrary to speculations stating that monosodium glutamate, MSG, is harmful to health, the West African Seasoning Company Limited, WASCO, has debunked such as unfounded rumour, saying it is 100 per cent safe for consumption.

While speaking at the factory tour and unveiling of celebrities, Helen Paul and professional chef, Miyonse Amosu, as ambassadors of the brand, Umami seasoning, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Junichi Niki reaffirmed that the duo would connect with consumers and deepen public awareness on the benefits of the brand.

For over a century now, MSG has been used to add Umami, the 5th basic taste, that enhances taste and make dishes more delicious since it was discovered in 1909. MSG is present in most natural foods such as meat, seafood, vegetable, cheese and milk. Umami is a universal taste. “As a food company, we have been in Nigeria since 1991 distributing nationwide. Over the years, we have grown especially in northern Nigeria and so we want to renew our strength in southern Nigeria to complement our efforts in the North,” he added.

 Making his  presentation,  Head of Marketing, Ajinomoto, Mr. Isa Hassan Shallangwa, said: “Umami is having a strong pleasant taste that is not sweet, sour, salty, or bitter, especially like the tastes found in meat, strong cheese and tomato. Umami taste is a member of the five basic tastes (alongside sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness.” He said the safety of umami substance has been approved by authorities all over the world including   the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. He explained that the product is produced through a natural fermentation process of sugar molasses which are obtained from plants such as sugar cane.

The benefit of Ajinomoto Umami seasoning includes enhancing and promoting the deliciousness of our meals, it is economical, it reduces salt intake and it is rich in glutamine, one of the free amino acids. Almost all seasoning contains MSG,” Shallangwa said. Ajinomoto is the first MSG seasoning produced since 1909. It is also the number one brand of Monosodium Glutamate (Umami Substance).

Glutamate is also abundant in our traditional fermented condiments like iru, ogiri and daddawa. Umami is a universal taste. In Nigeria, West African Seasoning Company, WASCO, will continually and significantly contribute to promotion of good health and good culinary practice for healthy living of all families through the provision of nutritional seasoning products and other products of high quality to our consumers. Speaking, one of the ambassadors, Helen Paul expressed her delight at joining Ajinomoto as the brand ambassador.

 “I’m happy and delighted for the opportunity to be Ajinomoto Brand Ambassador, I promise to tell the Ajinomoto story with facts.” A former Big Brother Nigeria contestant, Miyonse Amosu, also expressed his excitement thus: “As a chef, I’ll be educating and informing consumers on how they can use their Ajinomoto seasoning,” he said while speaking with the media at the event.

August 14, 2018