Govt to study ill-effects of ajinomoto

The government will take up a study to decide whether flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate (ajinomoto) could be banned, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ramesh Kumar informed the Council on Monday.

Replying to a question by Ramachandra Gowda (BJP), Kumar said the Health department had failed to control indiscriminate use of ajinomoto. “Indiscriminate use of the chemical causes adverse health effects,” the minister said.

He said ajinomoto is used in Chinese foods. To a query on whether the government planned to ban ajinomoto, the minister said, “I will seek a report from experts, study it and then make an announcement.”