There is a considerable amount of controversy surrounding the use of Monosodium Glutamate in the foods that we eat. Initially, MSG was classified by the Food and Drug Administration as ’safe’. However, speculation surrounding its potential harmful side effects has been mounting. MSG consumption has led to a variety of reported claims including severe headache, diarrhea, fatigue, numbness in the back of the neck, tingling, heat and pressure in the face, thirst, weakness in the upper back and neck, chest pain, headache, elevated heart rate and difficulty breathing. Once termed ‘Chinese Restaurant Syndrome’, the truth is that this hidden menace exists in a majority of the items on the grocery store shelves.

What is MSG? MSG is a substance that is formally categorized as an excitotoxin, which is a chemical that causes brain cells to become overexcited and fire uncontrollably. It is added to food by manufacturers as a cheap way to make bland inadequate foods taste better for the consumer. It saves the food industry vast amounts of money to process this way.

The ‘G’ in MSG stands for glutamate. Many flavorful foods are naturally high in glutamate such as cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes. MSG, on the other hand, is processed. It’s the sodium salt of the amino acid, glutamic acid, and is a different form of glutamate than that which occurs in the foods mentioned above.

Research indicates that MSG and other excitotoxins, such as the commonly used sweetener, aspartame, have the potential for inflicting permanent damage on a growing brain and nervous system and even kill brain cells.

The federal government, however, has aided the food industry by allowing differing levels of MSG to be labeled under other names, in effect to hide its presence in what we buy. One of our greatest weapons against MSG is to read the labels with caution. Take the following list with you to the grocery store to aid you in your choices. The list is, sadly, not all inclusive.

Additives that always contain MSG include:

• Monosodium Glutamate
• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (eg. corn protein, pea protein)
• Hydrolyzed Protein
• Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
• Plant Protein Extract
• Sodium Caseinate
• Calcium Caseinate
• Yeast Extract
• Textured Protein
• Autolyzed Yeast
• Hydrolyzed Oat Flour

Additives that frequently contain MSG or may contain it include:

• Malt extract
• Bouillon
• Broth
• Stock
• Flavoring
• Natural Flavoring/flavors
• Natural Beef or Chicken Flavoring
• Seasoning
• Spices
• Carrageenan
• Enzymes
• Soy Protein Concentrate
• Soy Protein Isolate
• Whey Protein Concentrate

Also please be aware that just because a product is labeled ‘NO MSG’ or is sitting in the organic section of the store does not make it MSG-free. You must read the labels just as carefully.

Processed foods are the culprits: crackers, chips, soups, instant rice/potatoes/pastas, meal ‘helpers’, even baby foods, contain increased amounts and the list goes on and on.

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Jill Redfern is a registered nurse in the Valencia area with 30 years of experience in both traditional and alternative medicine and a pioneer in the field of women’s alternative health and enzyme therapy.