Ever heard of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome? Coined in the 60s, it refers to a group of symptoms some people experience after eating food from, well… a Chinese restaurant. Literally.
Today, it’s known as MSG. Resulting in mild to severe symptoms of headaches, skin flushing, and sweating, MSG is now the first thing on restaurateurs’ minds as soon as they step foot into a Chinese restaurant.
What is MSG?
Also known as monosodium glutamate, MSG is a food additive used to improve the taste of food. It has become an important additive for the food industry because it doesn’t compromise flavor if lower quality or less fresh ingredients are used. It’s pretty much the “fluff” that’s inserted to make up for the lack of prime ingredients that go into a dish or packaged good.
According to Health Line, MSG is made up mostly of
free glutamic acid, or glutamate, an amino acid found naturally in most foods. It’s produced by fermenting molasses, starch, or sugar cane. This fermentation process is like the process used to make wine and yogurt.
Is it safe?
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorized MSG as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), the FDA also categorizes salt and sugar as GRAS. However, there’s controversy over the lack of oversight the FDA has in the introduction and use of additives by the food industry.
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), many GRAS foods don’t go through the rigorous testing required for this safety claim.
Trans fats were once identified as GRAS too until
enough research forced the FDA to change the classification. Aside from being used in some Chinese food, MSG is added to many processed foods, including hot dogs and potato chips.
The FDA does require companies that add MSG to their foods to include the additive on the list of ingredients on their packaging. This is because some people identify themselves as sensitive to MSG.
However, some ingredients naturally contain MSG, and food manufacturers may choose to use these ingredients to avoid disclosing the name “MSG” on the ingredient list.
What could happen to you?
Yes, most people can eat foods that contain MSG without experiencing any problems. However, a small percentage of people have short-term, adverse reactions to this food additive. Due to this controversy, many restaurants advertise that they don’t add MSG to their foods.
People who have eaten food containing MSG may experience the following symptoms within two hours of consuming and can last a few hours to a couple of days:
Common symptoms include:
Less commonly, people can experience severe, life-threatening symptoms like
those experienced during allergic reactions.
Severe symptoms may include:
Minor symptoms don’t require treatment. But you should go to an emergency room or call 911 right away if you experience severe symptoms.
How To Avoid MSG
First thing’s first, ask your doctor if you may or may not have MSG sensitivity and what amount would be safe for you. If you think you’re sensitive to foods that contain high amounts of glutamate, your doctor can inform you more about eating a special diet that eliminates foods containing MSG.
If you intend to steer clear of MSG all together, try your best to exclude these main ingredients: autolyzed yeast, textured vegetable protein, yeast extract, glutamic acid, gelatin, soy protein isolate, and soy extracts. Make sure to read the list of ingredients on all food packages and when you eat out, always ask if they add MSG to their dishes.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
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