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Quickfacts: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a federally classified food additive that enhances flavor. While the Food and Drug Administration has generally regarded MSG as safe, they do recognize that sensitive individuals may experience many side effects that are linked to ingesting MSG. Additionally, when MSG is added to a processed food item, it must be clearly displayed on the product’s ingredients label. Read on to learn about the noted side effects and how to recognize the addition of MSG on product labels.
We’ve all heard of MSG but do you really know what it is and if it posses a potential risk to you or your family?
The ABCs of MSG
According to the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA), MSG is classified as a flavor enhancer (or additive) by federal regulation. As a flavor enhancer it must be identified as “monosodium glutamate” on the label. Monosodium glutamate originated in Japan. It was first isolated from a Japanese sea vegetable called Kombu in 1908 where it’s ability to stimulate the “savory” taste buds was discovered.
Because only glutamate in its “free” form can stimulate the taste buds, a fermentation process is used to free the glutamate from the protein it is bound to. While in past times, this was done by extracting glutamate from sources such as seaweed; today it is produced industrially from starches such as cane sugar and sugar beets. MSG gave food manufacturers the chance to make otherwise unpalatable food acceptable.
When U.S. food manufacturers acquired the additive after WWII and found a way to synthetically produce the product, its potential as a multi-billion dollar industry was sealed. MSG has grown in popularity with manufacturers as a flavor enhancer due to its cheap price and easy availability.
Despite how commonly it is found as a food additive, many people are convinced that it is harmful and should be avoided or even banned. Although the FDA has received numerous reports of adverse reactions to MSG, it continues to emphasize its general safety. In the 1970s food manufacturers agreed to remove it from baby foods, yet MSG continues to be listed on the FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) List.
MSG in your Brain and Everywhere
Glutamate is a neurotransmitter. It causes nerves to fire, carrying nerve impulses throughout the nervous system. If too much glutamate is consumed, the body normally pumps the excess glutamate out of the neurons. However, if MSG is consumed and levels of glutamate are too high, the body cannot pump out the excess and the neurons become over-stimulated and can cause a variety of reactions. Therefore, MSG can act as an excitotoxin. Although most experts don’t believe that high enough levels of the excitotoxins are reached in humans to cause any serious neurological damage, some believe enough of this excitotoxin reaches the nerves causing them to die. Additionally, some believe this excitotoxin effect is particularly noted in the hypothalamus and temporal lobes of the brain. These are the parts of the brain, which control such body functions as: behavior, emotions, immunity, the sleep cycle, hormones, puberty and short-term memory to name a few.
Recognized Links to Adverse Reactions
Ingestion of glutamic acid (MSG) may produce a variety of adverse reactions in people. It is not known why some people experience reactions and others do not. It is also not known whether MSG causes the condition underlying the reaction, or whether the underlying condition is simply aggravated by the ingestion of MSG. What is known is that enough reactions have been reported after ingesting the additive MSG to warrant comment and studies from the Food and Drug Administration. According to the FDA, MSG Symptom Complex or MSG side effects can result in: numbness, burning sensation, tingling, facial pressure or tightness, chest pain, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, weakness or difficulty breathing for asthmatics.
Apparent long-term effects of MSG are under scrutiny as well. These include (but not limited to): obesity, increased Body Mass Index (BMI), short stature and sexual reproduction problems. To date, these claims have not been scientifically proven but they are being studied.
MSG Detective Work
Now that we know the issues, where do we find MSG? MSG is typically found in soups, broths, junk foods, fast foods, soy sauce and a great deal of all processed foods. Monosodium glutamate also has several aliases you should know about, including hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed protein, hydrolyzed plant protein, plant protein extract, sodium caseinate, calcium caseinate, yeast extract, textured protein, autolyzed yeast, and hydrolyzed oat flour. MSG sensitive consumers should to read labels and educate themselves.
The Bottom Line: Education and Moderation
Most research suggests that MSG is safe if consumed in limited quantities. Certain groups of people who are particularly sensitive to the health effect of MSG may experience the disturbing symptoms described above with young children and infants being more prone to adverse reactions. For this reason, if you’ve ever experienced a known reaction to MSG, it’s best to avoid it whenever possible. It may also be wise to avoid exposing children to MSG until more is known about its safety.
The following websites were used in gathering information for this article. Please visit them yourself to learn more information about healthy eating choices.
Erika Niedernhofer is a Registered Dietitian. She lives in Solana Beach with her husband and two children, daughter 8 years and son 6 years and their beloved Corgi. An east coast native, Erika relocated to California in 2000. She enjoys spending time with family, running and reading.
Tags: excitotoxin, flavor enhancer, food additive, monosodium glutamate, MSG, MSG aliases, MSG risks, processed food, side effects
