Arrests in Indonesian MSG scandal

Ajinomoto is one of the most popular brands

Indonesian police have arrested three Japanese executives whose company used pig by-products in the manufacture of monosodium glutamate.

"We have arrested seven Ajinomoto officials, including three Japanese. They are still being questioned over the matter," national police spokesman Saleh Saaf told Reuters new agency on Tuesday.

The president and vice-president of PT Ajinomoto Indonesia, Mitsuo Harakawa and Yasuhi Oda, were detained on Sunday for violating consumer protection laws.

Police guard the factory in case of attack

If convicted, they could face up to five years in jail.

Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a popular flavour enhancer across Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country.

Ajinomoto had labelled its product as suitable for Muslims, but later admitted the product contained enzymes grown on pork fat.

The consumption of pig meat is forbidden in the Islamic faith.

Apology

Ajinomoto's Japanese technical director, Yosiko Togama, and five Indonesian company officials were also detained over the weekend. Police said more arrests would follow.

The company, which has issued a public apology, has been given three weeks to withdraw its MSG, one of the country's most popular brands.

Ajinomoto said the pork product was only a catalyst and was not present in the flavour enhancer itself.

It has promised to replace the pork derivative with one made from soy.

About 80% of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslims.

In neighbouring Malaysia, where this is a Muslim majority, there have been calls for the government to conduct tests and make the findings public.