Monosodium glutamate, aka MSG, sounds far from nature, but is it? To answer that, let’s look at what it’s made of, where it comes from, and what happens to it in your body. “Natural.” There’s no official definition for the…
Known as “umami seasoning,” the popular flavor enhancer MSG has been associated with flavorful foods since it was discovered by Professor Kikunae Ikeda of Tokyo Imperial University in 1907. Though glutamate is found naturally in many foods, Dr. Ikeda discovered…
by Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN During the Covid-19 pandemic, Google searches for phrases like “can’t taste food” spiked around the world. Most people do experience a temporary change in the flavor (and often the smell) of food with a…
This post was sponsored by the Ajinomoto Group and appeared in SmartBrief on November 30, 2020. There is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to food and nutrition, and many people can easily be swayed by opinions…
It’s time to address some common MSG myths and misconceptions. Let’s get straight to it: MSG MYTHS Myth: MSG is not natural. Fact: MSG is a purified form of naturally occurring glutamate. Because glutamate doesn’t like to be alone, sodium…
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Asian restaurants have been closing at a significantly higher rate than other restaurants. Hateful rhetoric and acts of discrimination, fueled by unfounded fear, is impacting Asian Americans and their businesses, leading to an unprecedented drop in sales and closures at twice the rate of any other restaurant category.
Kick menu boredom to the curb by adding umami flavor to your favorite dishes. If you’re interested in ramping up the umami flavor profile of your recipes, here are suggestions on using four excellent sources of umami that can be…