Dipo Olowookere
**As Market Activation Team Enters Onitsha
General Manager of the West African Seasoning Company Limited (WASCO), Mr Takashi Sato, has said the flagship product of the country, Ajinomoto, which is a popular monosodium glutamate (MSG) seasoning, is safe for consumption.
Mr Sato gave this assurance to consumers of the product on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra, during a market activation and sensitization on the usage of Ajinomoto seasoning.
During the campaign at Relief Market, Ogbaru near Onitsha, the company gave consumers and traders at the market free cash, souvenirs and seasonings as gifts.
Mr Sato explained that WASCO carried out the market activation so as to engage consumers and change their perception about the brand.
According to him, the campaign was part of the company’s business strategies to increase sales of the Ajinomoto brand, particularly in the South-East zone where it had witnessed downturn in sales.
“Our purpose is to promote the brand. Ajinomoto is a popular monosodium glutamate (MSG) seasoning which is safe for consumption.
“It is produced through the same natural fermentation process just like Okpei and Dawadawa and it has been scientifically certified safe for consumption by global and local food authorities,” he told the consumers and traders at the activation.
According to him, the brand has been in existence since 1909 but was introduced to Nigeria in 1991.
A professional chef and one-time housemate in the Big Brother Naija Season 2, Miyonse Amosu, who is the brand ambassador for Ajinomoto, prepared jollof rice using the Ajinomoto spice and served to onlookers to pass their judgment.
Another brand ambassador and ace comedian, Helen Paul, who thrilled consumers at the event, described the brand as a “unique and essential spice for every meal”.
She said, “It is a global brand that has been in existence for many years. It has an irresistible taste and it’s absolutely safe.
“Everything negative said about Ajinomoto is false as it is made from sugarcane and it gives soup the required tantalizing taste.”
