Monosodium glutamate is deeply misunderstood, experts reveal.
Is MSG Actually Bad for You?
Originally published in Prevention magazine, January 28, 2022
Is MSG Good or Bad for You?
by Jake Smith, editorial fellow at Prevention
More quotes from this article:
“MSG occurs naturally in some foods, like tomatoes and cheeses, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But after it was extracted from a seaweed broth in 1908, MSG started to be used as a flavor enhancer. Now, MSG is usually made by fermenting starch, sugar beets, sugar cane, or molasses, per the FDA. ‘It actually has less sodium in it than table salt,’ points out Antonette Hardie, R.D.N., a nutritionist with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. As a result, she says that MSG isn’t bad for you.”
“MSG is required to be listed on labels for meat and poultry, although it shows up as ‘monosodium glutamate,’ according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The FDA also requires manufacturers to list MSG as an ingredient when it’s added to foods.”
So, Is MSG Bad, or Is It Safe?
“Major global health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), FDA, and European Food Safety Association (EFSA) have determined that MSG is generally safe to eat, as long as you have it within certain amounts.”
[According to Hardie,] “’It actually could help lower the overall intake of sodium in our diet by providing the perception that you are eating something salty without the actual salt.’”
Read the full article here.
Feature Photo by Marina Bridger on Unsplash
Seasoning Onions Photo by Filipp Romanovski on Unsplash
