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Is it safe to use food products with Monosodium Glutamate?
What health problems could arise from ingestion of too much Monosodium Glutamate? How do I know if the food product I am buying contains Monosodium Glutamate?
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Hi @mmng23!
The FDA classifies monosodium gluatamate or MSG, as "generally recognized as safe (GRAS). This doesn't mean that there is not a lot of controversy surrounding the use of MSG . There are reports that consumption of MSG can cause mild reactions, including headache, flushing, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, and weakness, call the "MSG symptom complex. It has been hypothesized that high consumption MSG can also lead to obesity, migraines, and hyperactivity in children. These claims have yet to be statistically proven in clinical studies.
Based on the reports of MSG symptom complex, the FDA has concluded that when consumed at "customary" levels, MSG poses no risk to the average individual. There may be individuals more prone to experiencing the MSG symptom complex, and if you have any reactions after eating MSG, you should remove MSG from your diet.
The FDA requires that all food products containing MSG to list MSG on the label. You should also look for the words glutamate and also the following food additives: hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extract, and protein isolate (1).
Since MSG is GRAS, it is considered safe to consume in small amounts and as mentioned above, most individuals will not feel any side effects. However, if you would like to err on the side of caution, you can cut MSG out of your diet by making sure the food products you use do not contain MSG or other sources of glutamate.
Sources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate
2. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251
The FDA classifies monosodium gluatamate or MSG, as "generally recognized as safe (GRAS). This doesn't mean that there is not a lot of controversy surrounding the use of MSG . There are reports that consumption of MSG can cause mild reactions, including headache, flushing, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, and weakness, call the "MSG symptom complex. It has been hypothesized that high consumption MSG can also lead to obesity, migraines, and hyperactivity in children. These claims have yet to be statistically proven in clinical studies.
Based on the reports of MSG symptom complex, the FDA has concluded that when consumed at "customary" levels, MSG poses no risk to the average individual. There may be individuals more prone to experiencing the MSG symptom complex, and if you have any reactions after eating MSG, you should remove MSG from your diet.
The FDA requires that all food products containing MSG to list MSG on the label. You should also look for the words glutamate and also the following food additives: hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extract, and protein isolate (1).
Since MSG is GRAS, it is considered safe to consume in small amounts and as mentioned above, most individuals will not feel any side effects. However, if you would like to err on the side of caution, you can cut MSG out of your diet by making sure the food products you use do not contain MSG or other sources of glutamate.
Sources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate
2. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
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