The Ajinomoto story began in 1908 when Dr. Kikunae Ikeda discovered that the amino acid L-glutamate is the source of umami – the savory flavor found in many foods. This discovery led to the founding of Ajinomoto Co. Our company is built on the knowledge that this amino acid is key to the human body’s ability to recognize nutritious foods by taste. Delicious is actually a signal for nutritious.

After that first discovery of the connections between amino acids, taste and nutrition, Ajinomoto Co. quickly established itself as a household food brand in Japan and a reliable source of nutrition. Through a focus on research and product development and a dedication to human health, Ajinomoto Co. is now a global science-oriented supplier and marketer of foods, food ingredients, amino acids, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and animal nutrition.