Ajinomoto Co., a maker of food seasoning based on monosodium glutamate, denied that six of its officials were arrested in Indonesia Saturday over allegations its products contain pork extracts, an ingredient forbidden under Muslim law.
Following reports that Indonesian police arrested Ajinomoto executives at its Indonesian unit, P.T. Ajinomoto Indonesia, a public relations official at the company's Tokyo head office on Saturday said, "We have caused concern among consumers over a religious issue." About the reported arrests, the official said, "Four (executives), including one Japanese, voluntarily visited a police station for questioning on Thursday and have since been detained, although they have not been arrested."
The official said a local report claiming six employees have been arrested was inaccurate, adding that the Japanese embassy in Jakarta agreed.