The Indonesian government on Wednesday gave an Indonesian venture of Ajinomoto Co. three weeks to withdraw certain food-flavoring products following the discovery that pork fat was used in their production, which is forbidden under Islamic Law.
The order was issued after a meeting between officials of the Directorate General of Drugs and Food Supervision, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and the management of P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia, a venture set up by the Japanese foodstuff maker.
"We ordered P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia to withdraw its monosodium glutamate products within three weeks," Director General of Drugs and Food Supervision Sampurno told a press conference when announcing the results of the earlier meeting.
"P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia has agreed to do it," he added.