Hatrack River Forum: Eat more MSG

This is topic Eat more MSG in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

MSG is a naturally-occurring chemical found in many foods, and that we're all wary of it as a result of a single highly-publicized study (that was probably rigged).

Fear over MSG that has resulted is strong enough to create an observable negative psychosomatic response (up to and including itchiness, palpitations and hives) in people when you tell them they have consumed MSG. Without regard to if they have actually had MSG.

Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :

[Party]

Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :

(The party's because now I only have to worry about eating too much sodium in general.)

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

I confess that I deliberately add MSG to my food sometimes.

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

Shhhh!!! Quit inserting real facts into our mass induced hysteria!

Posted by C3PO the Dragon Slayer (Member # 10416) on :

I always knew the hysteria over MSG was just a distraction from the real problem of dihydrogen monoxide.

Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :

Mucus says 'Meh'

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Belle:
Shhhh!!! Quit inserting real facts into our mass induced hysteria!

It won't stop people from assuming en masse that they have the mythical MSG allergy.

Posted by Dan_Frank (Member # 8488) on :

quote:
Originally posted by TomDavidson:
I confess that I deliberately add MSG to my food sometimes.

It makes things taste so delicious!

Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :

That's interesting. When I was about 12 or so, my family got some Chinese take out on vacation and afterwards everyone ended up with a spliting headache. That was the first I'd heard of MSG, though I assumed it had to be a super high dose to bother me since most Chinese food doesn't. I guess MSG didn't deserve any of the blame.

Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :

Wow, the chemistry in that article was really deplorably bad.

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

I didn't read the article, but I love the taste of MSG. My mom used to add Accent to some of her cooking, which is MSG in a bottle.

Mmm that ramen'y umami flavor.

Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :

I suspect, like many things, that MSG can cause strong reactions in some people. I agree that that isn't a good reason for mass hysteria. MSG remains in an awful lot of foods, including nearly every "flavored" chip and cracker you find on grocery shelves.

Oh, and I had ramen in a ramen restaurant when I was on Oahu a week ago, and it was awesome. I wish we could get a ramen restaurant where we live. [Smile]

Posted by Aros (Member # 4873) on :

Yes, there are many people who have reactions to cheese, meat, and mushrooms. They call it a cheatroomadosis

Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :

Fun fact: When a food lists "natural flavors" in the ingredients, that is often code for MSG.

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

I am a big fan of umami.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sterling:
I suspect, like many things, that MSG can cause strong reactions in some people.

Actual reactions to MSG, or the whole "oriental restaurant syndrome" is conspicuously absent from nearly anyone's physiology.

Food allergies are something we like to invent for ourselves. About a quarter of all people think they have some sort of food allergy — the latest in vogue food allergy is people assuming they are allergic or 'sensitive' to gluten. MSG allergies are extremely rare, to the extent that I'm not sure if they've been conclusively observed or not. But psyching yourself out to think you have an adverse reaction to MSG is easy.