Achievement by 2020: 2) Health and Pharmaceuticals
Amino acids are a basic building block of all life forms. Ajinomoto is determined to be more proactive in clarifying the diverse functions and benefits of amino acids in the health and pharmaceutical sectors as well as with people around the world.
Other Topics Related to Health and Pharmaceuticals
Low-calorie sweetener helps improve quality of life for Chinese diabetics
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PAL SWEET Calorie Zero® exhibition in China presents simple product menus |
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China has the second largest population of diabetics in the world. According to a recent study, 11% of urban residents have diabetes or are in the early stages of the disease. The reason for this surprising statistic is that lifestyle habits have changed considerably with the rapid urbanization of the society. The impact of a steadily aging population is considered to be an additional cause.
Over the years, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has been supporting the food lifestyles of Japanese people who need to reduce their calorie intake, including those suffering from diabetes and obesity, by offering various low-calorie sweeteners containing aspartame, a product made through amino acid technology. With the desire to help meet the needs of increasing numbers of people with diabetes in Asia, the company has selected China as the first market outside Japan for this product.
In China, patients with diabetes are often advised to strictly limit their intake of sugar in order to control their blood sugar levels. This has a negative impact on their quality of life. Ajinomoto Co., Inc. first aims to popularize the Chinese version of PAL SWEET Calorie Zero® in Beijing and Shanghai, and then expand its connections with doctors specializing in nutrition and diabetes by developing relationships with diabetes associations. It is important to have these specialist physicians recommend the product to their patients, while also providing advice on dietary strategies that emphasize good-tasting food and sustainability.
As an opportunity for direct communication with patients, the company actively participates in World Diabetes Day1 events in November, and in diabetes seminars at major hospitals. Drawing from the know-how it has developed as a food company, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. also provides recipes using PAL SWEET Calorie Zero® in product pamphlets for patients. Many patients are surprised and happy to learn that they can control their blood sugar levels while eating sweet-tasting foods containing this product.
The company has only just begun addressing the needs of the massive Chinese market. Patients with diabetes and their families experience various daily restrictions including blood sugar limits and food calorie intake. Therefore, the company intends to continue its efforts to enable Chinese diabetics to experience the pleasure of sweet-tasting foods through the use of PAL SWEET Calorie Zero® as a means to help improve their quality of life.
1. World Diabetes Day: On December 20, 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations approved a resolution to recognize diabetes as a worldwide threat. All 192　member nations of the UN voted for this resolution sponsored by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). As a result, World Diabetes Day was declared as November 14, a date previously established by the IDF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Calpis Co., Ltd. holds Kids Labs to convey the fun of science to children
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Employees teach a Kids Lab. |
Since 2007, Calpis Co., Ltd. has participated in the Science Experiment Class Project, overseen by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. To counter the trend of children losing interest in the sciences, the project aims to deepen children's understanding of science in a classroom setting connected to the real world and taught by people in business.
The company participates in the project and holds experimental science classes taught by employees at elementary schools, drawing from its expertise in lactic acid bacteria and fermentation technology developed over many years, for the purpose of conveying the fun of science to children—the bearers of our future.
In fiscal 2008, employees from the company's research laboratories, head office and branches held Kids Labs at elementary schools in Chiba Prefecture in Japan. Children learned about fermentation and lactic acid bacteria through familiar food products during the class. They observed lactic acid bacteria under a microscope and became excited upon identifying it. The children's heightened interest was indicated by comments such as, “I understood that science is all around me.” In a survey after the class, 98% of the children said they “enjoyed” the science experiment. The company will continue to support educational activities like these in cooperation with local communities as a good corporate citizen.
