Chicago-Style Flavor, Global Impact: Ajinomoto to Spotlight Umami at IFT FIRST

Chicago leads the nation in food manufacturing, and this summer, the world’s top food scientists, innovators, and tastemakers will gather here for IFT FIRST, the largest food science and innovation expo.

In celebration, this week’s Business Pulse fueled by LinkedIn News spotlights the industry and offers a preview of a unique campaign that will be showcased at the event: a sensory-forward experience built around umami, developed by Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc.

In 1908, as the Chicago Cubs were claiming their second World Series title, on the other side of the globe Dr. Kikunae Ikeda was discovering umami – which would ultimately become one of the five basic tastes and a cornerstone of cuisine.

Ikeda understood umami’s ability to enhance taste and flavors through glutamate. This led to the creation of MSG, or monosodium glutamate, a tabletop seasoning produced through fermentation to easily deliver umami.

Ikeda also saw the potential role of umami and [TR1] MSG could have in improving nutrition. Containing one third of the sodium as table salt, MSG can be a great tool for sodium reduction without sacrificing taste.

The following year the Ajinomoto Groupwas co-founded by Ikeda and MSG was launched as a tabletop seasoning in Japan.

Today, the Ajinomoto Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of glutamate and other amino acids, along with a wide range of other businesses in the food, health care, and biotech sectors.

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America Inc. (AHN), an affiliate of the Ajinomoto Group, is headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, near O’Hare International Airport. The AHN team uses centuries of flavor expertise and Ikeda’s pioneering spirit to solve modern challenges, especially for global food and beverage manufacturers. AHN’s presence in the greater Chicagoland area is strategic. The location provides access to the world-class talent and innovation happening in Chicago.

“At the foundation of Ajinomoto Health and Nutrition is the science of great taste and that enables us to continuously innovate for the industry,” said Dr. Tia Rains, PhD, Vice President, Science, Innovation and Corporate Affairs. “Our team brings expertise, experience, and creativity to everything we do. Our customers in the Chicagoland area and beyond call on us because we can truly be an efficient extension of their team. This includes using umami in unexpected ways, which is a specialized area for us, built on centuries of expertise to solve modern challenges.”

Chicago’s reputation as a global capital for food innovation is well-earned. From its award-winning culinary scene to the concentration of food and beverage companies, research institutions, and startups, the city is a magnet for food tech visionaries.

Events like IFT FIRST, the world’s leading food technology event and the largest B2B food expo, reinforce Chicago’s role as a launchpad for the next generation of food solutions.

As part of IFT FIRST, AHN will be showcasing their innovative solutions through a dynamic and flavorful activation they’ve coined as the “YOUmami Experience.” The “YOUmami Experience” is a sensory-forward, interactive activation that invites attendees to explore the versatility and commonality of umami through a digital quiz. This quiz matches users with one of four custom seasoning blends, each crafted by AHN’s team of culinary, food science, and nutrition experts.

The four seasoning blends are as diverse as they are delicious and they include:

• “Street Heat”: Inspired by the increasingly trendy Mexican dish, quesabirria tacos, this blend uses AHN’s newest solutions to demonstrate how umami can enhance flavor while reducing sodium.
• “Shaken, Not Stirred”: Highlighting umami’s unexpected brilliance in cocktails, this blend brings everything but the martini glass in terms of flavor, encouraging guests to shake it up – literally.
• “Ramen Remix”: This blend pays homage to Japanese cuisine and how tradition inspires AHN’s innovation today.  AHN will also sample this seasoning on popcorn during IFT FIRST.
• And “A Slice of Innovation”: Developed in partnership with World Business Chicago, this deep-dish pizza-inspired seasoning celebrates Chicago as the food and beverage innovation capital while highlighting other sources of umami, like tomatoes and cheese, in the iconic dish.

As the food industry gathers in Chicago this July, AHN will blend science, culture, and creativity. It promises to be a celebration of flavor, innovation, and the city that brings them together.

If you’d like to learn more about umami visit www.knowMSG.com and to try the “YOUmami Experience” for yourself, keep an eye on AHN’s LinkedIn page, especially on July 25, Umami Seasoning Day.

Umami Seasoning Day offers a unique opportunity to spotlight umami in modern global cuisine. It also reinforces AHN’s leadership in flavor, food science, and its mission to improve lives through nutrition and taste.

Chicago’s food innovation story is layered, flavorful, and constantly evolving—much like umami itself. As IFT FIRST approaches, we’re proud to amplify the companies and collaborations that make our region #1 in food production.

A special thank you to our board member Ryan Smith, Chief Growth Officer & Executive Vice President, and Abbye Lakin, Director Communications & Marketing, Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc. — your continued collaboration means the world to us.

If you’re heading to #IFTFIRST this July, don’t miss the “YOUmami Experience” at Booth #S820. It’s a brilliant example of science, flavor, and creativity coming together—Chicago style.