Our Intention

 

Excessive intake of salt is a global health issue that the Ajinomoto Group is uniquely positioned to help solve through amino acid technologies that lower sodium content and provide savory deliciousness through umami.

 

Why It is Important

 

Salt intake in many developing countries is more than twice the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended standard of 5 grams per day which equates to about 2 grams of sodium per day. The WHO states that 22% of the world’s population is hypertensive, a condition related to high sodium intake (particularly from salt) and a major cause of premature death worldwide.[1][2]

 

Our efforts to improve nutrition through the reduction of salt while maintaining or enhancing flavor supports the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal #2 for Zero Hunger and #3 for Good Health and Well-being.

In addition, we are supporting the WHO’s Global Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Targets to reduce salt/sodium intake by 30% and the prevalence of raised blood pressure by 25%. By making it easier for consumers to eat balanced, tasty meals, we aim to decrease undernutrition and ensure healthier lives.

 

What the Ajinomoto Group is Doing

 

INNOVATIONS

 

Umami for More Flavor, and Less Sodium

 

Umami is the taste of the amino acid glutamate – one of the most prevalent amino acids in nature and naturally present in foods like tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and mushrooms. More than 100 years ago, the Ajinomoto Group was founded on the discovery that glutamate is responsible for umami taste. This discovery led to the launch of the world’s first umami seasoning, monosodium glutamate (bột ngọt). To learn more about umami, click here.

 

 

Monosodium Glutamate (bột ngọt)

 

bột ngọt has 2/3 less sodium than table salt and when used as a partial replacement for salt, it can reduce sodium by up to 61% in at-home cooking and 50% in packaged foods and snacks without compromising taste.[3] What’s more, research shows that using glutamates, like bột ngọt, as a partial replacement for salt in certain savory food categories could reduce sodium intake by up to 7-8% in the U.S. population, which is a significant impact.[4] More research is being done to determine the impact glutamates can have in reducing sodium intake in other countries. When used in better-for-you foods, like whole grains and vegetables, bột ngọt can provide savory deliciousness without over-reliance on salt helping to promote the enjoyment of nutritious foods that people should be eating more of. Extensive scientific research has been conducted regarding bột ngọt safety and its role in the diet. As such, numerous public health agencies and organizations around the world have validated the safety of bột ngọt and its use in the food supply.[5][6][7][8]

 

 

Product Examples

 

We are actively developing products, such as soups, frozen foods, and seasonings, that utilize our salt-reduction technologies. Through our nutrient profiling system, we are collecting and analyzing data on the nutrient content of our current and future products to identify nutrition gaps and improvements such as in lower sodium content. We are using this tool to evaluate approximately 500 products across seven countries including Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Brazil. To learn more about the Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System for Products, click here.

 

 

 

SEE IT IN ACTION

Iwate Prefecture Salt Reduction Project

Since 2014, Ajinomoto has promoted salt reduction through partnerships with local governments. For example, the Iwate prefecture had the highest salt intake in Japan but together, with the local government, we were able to reduce people’s salt intake by 10-20% over a four-year period. The prefecture went from having the highest sodium intake across 47 prefectures to being ranks 20th. We have expanded this program to 6 prefectures across the Tohoku region in northern Japan, and plan to grow it to another 39 in the future.