Being able to taste a California grown apple or a kiwi from Australia, cheese from Holland or Sausages from Italy, Lingham’s hot sauce from Thailand, everyone’s favourite ‘Pringles’ and the list goes on, is something our grandparents only dreamed of.
In a world where we have a choice of putting our hands on any food fresh or packaged, and try any cuisine of the world in restaurants around us or at home. It’s a phenomenon I say!
Do you know that each of these items coming to your doorstep have been processed in some way or another?
Do you know that the more food is processed, the less nutritious it is for the human body?
Of the hundreds of ingredients added to foods during processing to enhance flavours, Monosodium Glutamate, commonly known as MSG, has proven to be one of the most controversial Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved food additives. While MSG is generally recognized as a safe additive to food, there has been a lot of talk and research that it may negatively affect health.
Lets discuss MSG (monosodium glutamate)
MSG is a sodium salt of the amino acid, glutamic acid or L-glutamic acid.
A Japanese professor Kikunae Ikeda first discovered MSG, a popular flavor enhancer. Ikeda extracted glutamate from seaweed broth and determined that it was this glutamate that gave the broth its savoury taste. All this let him to file a patent in 1908 to produce MSG.
Glutamic acid occurs naturally in the human body and also in foods like tomatoes, cheeses, and soy extracts and of course seaweed, though seaweed is no longer used for commercial production of MSG, currently commercial production of MSG, is made through a starch fermentation process, similar to that of producing vinegar, wine and yogurt.
What is so special about MSG?
- MSG boosts the flavor of foods by stimulating taste receptors, resulting in an umami taste. (a savoury and meaty mix)
- MSG enhances the flavor of food without the need to add extra salt, so the products and food stay low in salt.
- It is a cheap product and can thus keep the cost low and of many seasoning products.
NOTE — MSG is known as Ajinomoto in India, has been banned by the supreme court of India in 2018, declaring it as ‘hazardous for health’
What is the controversy behind MSG?
Even though MSG has been deemed a ‘generally recognized as safe’ (GRAS) food by the FDA, some experts have come up with potentially dangerous side effects of MSG, when ingested on a long-term basis.
Long-term use of MSG is also linked to obesity, liver damage, blood sugar fluctuations, nerve damage and even risk of cancer, however there is no conclusive evidence on this, and are mixed opinions on how MSG can affect overall health, but it is clear that over three grams or higher a day, will put you at risk. If you think you have sensitivity to MSG, its best to avoid products that have it. Being aware of personal tolerance to MSG is key.
An MSG symptom complex is a condition which occurs shortly after consuming MSG-laden food is characterized by symptoms such as — headache, hives, swelling of the throat, itching, and bellyache.
Other more severe symptoms include — chest pain, drowsiness, facial tightness or pressure, facial tingling or numbness, flushing, heart palpitations, nausea, sweating, weakness.
NOTE — From fast food to canned soups, all foods that contain MSG need to have the label in the ‘ingredients’ as monosodium glutamate or an E number E621, unless it is in the natural form in tomatoes, cheeses or soy extracts.
Today, it is one of the most used flavor enhancer additives in food production.
Products that primarily contain MSG as flavor enhancers are —
- Snack foods — all chips; corn chips, potato chips, Pringles, Doritos, snack mixes, pretzels. Actually any snacks, so remember the ground rule; check the label.
- All seasoning blends used to cook food like — stews, curries, stir-fries, bullions and soups or as rubs or marinates to meat, fish or poultry.
- Frozen meals are so convenient for everyone, but they only taste good because of the MSG content and are way down the ladder in nutritional benefits. BEWARE.
- Canned soups, Instant Maggie noodles, cup of noodles, soup mixes — check the labels.
- Processed meats is another bag full of MSG — sausages, beef jerky, smoked meats, hot dogs, let it be a rare treat.
- Ketchup, mayonnaise, sauces, added sugars, soy sauce, artificial colouring, BBQ sauce all our favourite food enhancers, all with the MSG well hidden.
Make informed choices before you make these your daily food.
NOTE — The average consumption of MSG in the USA or UK is 0.55 grams/day, while in Asian countries it is 1.2-1.7 grams/day.
Take away questions —
- How can I tell if there is MSG in the food at a restaurant?
As mentioned above, these foods will always contain MSG, if you are eating Asian food, ask the maître d’ for no MSG to be put in your food. Lastly, if you feel any of the symptoms mentioned above, while eating, you know there is MSG in the food.
- What evidence do we have that MSG should be avoided?
To date, there is no conclusive evidence that links MSG to cancer, or triggering headaches or other symptoms, this was incorrectly given a health hazard reputation in the 1960’s but by the 1990’s it regained a clear chit.
- Should I avoid MSG even if I have no symptoms?
If you have no symptoms, there is no reason to avoid it. You will need to be aware of the daily amounts consumed and not exceed 3 grams/day, in fact if you keep to the 0.55 grams, you can enjoy the flavor and avoid it if symptoms occur regularly, balance is the key.
With all that said —
Enjoy the umami flavor of this unique seasoning.
It’s sure to stir your palette, like it does mine.
