Use & Safety of MSG

What is MSG?

Monosodium Glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a chemical used as a flavour enhancer in many foods, giving it a savoury taste. It gives foods extra taste and is often found in a lot of Asian restaurants and as well as American fast foods.

Glutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid, broken down protein. Meat, fish, chicken, and various dairy products are examples of foods, which are rich in glutamate. Other foods such as soy/oyster/Worcestershire sauces and tomato products are high in glutamate.

Asian restaurants are always high in glutamate, due to the type of food and various sauces they use in their dishes. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, when exposed to 3g of MSG in the absence of food may have a short term affect on your health.

Despite many rumours of MSG in many foods, mainly with bad side effects with its use. However MSG is one of the most extensively researched substances over 40 years and has been found to be a safe food additive.