Readers Respond: Are you worried about MSG in food?

Concerned About MSG in Food?

is this caused by msg

If I eat chinese food or any food containing msg I get terrible stomach pains & can't move to far away from the bathroom my friend is the same. Could msg be the cause?

—Guest Ar

Different side effects

About a year to two years ago, I went to this huge Asian restaurant in Mass. Me and my boyfriend,at the time, ordered an app to share that included chicken wings, pork, ribs, steak, shrimp, and I think crab. I only ate the meat - not a seafood lover. Later ordered chicken low mein. The next morning I woke up with hives on my hands, elbows, knees, and feet and also my lips blew up like Angelina Jolie's. That was actually kind of funny but not at the same time. The hives popped up again, just not as bad, when I ate at P F Changs. Now I have to be extremely careful if I order Asian food from new places. I can't risk the symptoms being worst than that. I also accidentally ordered some today and didn't phase me to ask until I already ate 2 wings and some pork fried rice. The back of my throat feels dry and skrachy and I'm starting to feel ichy. Is there anything to help counteract extreme symptoms if they were to happen?

—Guest Amanda

MSG Sensitivity

In November 2010 I had a horrible MSG reaction that sent me to the ER. I had just eaten an "Asian noodle bowl" at work, and about 40 mins later my heart was pounding, I was dizzy and sweaty. I had a tingly feeling shooting through my body and I felt like I was going to pass out. It literally felt like nothing was in my brain, like my head was empty! It was the scariest thing I have ever experienced. My cardiologist and I put the pieces together to it being MSG. He has a lot of patients with this sensitivity. MSG has put people into A-Fib, anaphylactic shock, seizures, etc. Very scary stuff!!!!

—Guest Jen

Msg not used in europe

If msg is safe why did Europe outlaw it's usage? It's proven. That msg causes brain cancer

—Guest Mona

What can I eat?

I didn t understand well. MSG is in everything? I mean, even in fresh chicken, meat, corn....so, what can eat then?

—Guest Dani

Study of tumors and obesity in rats...

How do researchers study obesity and tumor growth? They use rats. How do you study a fat rat? You must make him fat. A tumor-ridden rat? You must make tumors grow in the rat. How do they accomplish this? Look it up. Find out. You may not be too surprised to learn that they call these study subjects "MSG treated rats" or something similar. I won't be force-fed MSG to fatten the wallets of rich corporate pigs. MSG makes me very sick in all its incarnations, but even if it didn't, I will retain freedom of choice in what I stick into my pie-hole - even if it means cooking all my meals at home and/or going completely vegetarian. (Oh yeah - its found in the 'basted' or 'broth' injected meats too! >ironic smile

—Guest harmonious1

msg is in everything

MSG is in everything from Campbell's soups to nacho flavor Doritos and everything in between. Some companies fearing the MSG ingredient in ingredient lists use instead "hydrolyzed yeast." They are often used to create savory flavors and umami taste sensations. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used for umami. Also you will see "vegetable protein (hydrolyzed corn, soy and wheat)", which is also form of glutamate for flavor enhancement, a good example being in the special sauce on your Big Mac.

—Guest Matt

Chinese and MSG

I thought I would by Chinese last night. I have had one of my worst ever Migraines all day today with no amount of peace quite and medication being of any use.

—mum289522

I generally avoid MSG

I'm of the opinion that the human body is fairly resilient and can put up with a fair bit of abuse before the systems start going haywire. That said, I find that MSG is seldom a lone gunman... foods that contain MSG usually also contain High Fructose Corn Syrup, hydrogenated oils, unholy food dyes, and other bizarre additives that, when combined, lead to more toxicity than I'd like in one sitting. That said, I don't freak out over the idea that MSG may have come near my food at some point. If I'm, say, in the mall and realize that I'm starving, I'd rather eat chicken and broccoli from the Chinese food stall, knowing that there's MSG but that there are also real vegetables involved, than a fast food burger which has little to no redeeming value.

—MeganRomerWorldMusic

Eat more home-cooked food

What I understand about MSG is that it acts as a taste enhancer - it does not affect the food you ingest but works on the taste buds and hence the disagreeable physical after-effects. Its like an instant chemical reaction taking place in the body, beginning specifically with the tongue and affecting the entire digestive tract eventually. Unfortunately, businesses must sell their food products and I fear almost all commercially produced food contains some trace of MSG, declared by them directly or camouflaged as some kind of 'protein', as highlighted by Danilo. So I say, eat more home-cooked food and boycott anything that even has a trace of MSG.

—Guest Joan James

My body is tuned to reject MSG

Whenever I consume it my lips will have the swollen effect and I feel very stress for the whole day. I can't sleep and keep coughing the whole night.

—kity2

No MSG For Me Cookbook

Check out Lisa Kramer's No MSG For Me Cookbook at www.nomsgforme.com. I have found it very helpful and great place to start. It includes tips for shopping for MSG free products and has a list of MSG free ingredients. It makes cooking without MSG a lot easier. I made an amazing Chicken Divan last night and her chicken noodle soup tonight. My family loved them both.

—Guest Berrygurl

MSG at jamaican restaurant

Not only chinese restaurants but I have severe headaches as well with bulging (fish eyes) after eating at a poplular Jamaican beef patty chain restaurant. I called to complain and was non-chalantly and very unapologetically told "Yes MSG is in our products"

—Guest smileyboo

Another M S G danger

Add this to your list. MSG does cause people to have Grand Mal seizures. I know this well as I had two in a 24 hour span after eating a chicken casserole that had Campbell's Crean of Chicken soup. It was too late after thinking that soup was in the food it was already in my stomach. I also know Needless to say I never eat any food that is made by that person who does not know you do not use canned soups to make a scratch meal. The food industry and FDA are slowly killing us all. Fot those who claim M S G does not harm them, tic toc tic toc tic toc then BAMM MSG will make something happen. MSG is a cash cow for all neurologist. MSG will affect infants, children, teenagers the most as a normal acting human brain takes 15 to 16 years to be fully developed and grown. After MSG gets into the brain cells, it never heals itself from the damage MSG had caused. Protect your brains now while you have the chance.

—Guest J. Davis

not my imagination either

Went to a favourite Chinese restaurant for lunch yesterday. The place where I never get any reactions. Guess what? Within ten minutes of leaving, the same symptoms occurred as after eating at "the other place" that I no longer frequent: rapid heartbeat that I could feel in my temples and knocking against my ribs. Like an adrenalin rush without the emotions of fear or excitement that go with an adrenalin rush. This lasted for several hours--into the night. These symptoms only occur for me after eating at some Chinese restaurants, and never after eating food I've prepared myself.

—Guest ohnonotagain