Although the Food and Drug Administration has ruled that MSG is generally safe, monosodium glutamate used in processed foods to enhance flavor can cause adverse reactions in people sensitive to MSG, such as headache, dizziness and heart palpitations. Refusing to eat foods containing MSG is the only way to avoid these symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. You will also need to look out for foods that hide MSG under one of its many aliases, such as yeast extract and "natural flavors."
Foods Containing Glutamic Acid
MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. Whenever a food label lists glutamate, monopotassium glutamate or glutamic acid, the food always contains MSG, according to Vanderbilt University. If sodium hydrogen glutamate is on a food label, the food also contains MSG because sodium hydrogen glutamate is the trade name of MSG, according to California State University. These foods tend to be canned and processed soups, and precooked frozen meals.
Foods Containing Caseinate
Unless you are buying fresh fruits and vegetables and cooking your own meals with fresh fish or meat from the butcher section of your grocery store, check the ingredients list of the other foods you are considering buying for the ingredient caseinate, sodium caseinate or calcium caseinate. MSG hides under these names and, if you are sensitive to MSG, eating such foods may cause you nausea, excessive sweating, flushing, heart palpitations, a feeling of numbness or tingling in your face or chest pain. MSG also hides under names that sound natural, such as broth stock, malt extract or bouillon.
Foods Containing "Natural Flavors"
Many processed foods, even those with "no MSG" on their labels, do contain MSG under another name. Common names for MSG include "natural flavors," "natural flavor" and "flavoring." Look for these names, or other MSG name substitutes, such as natural beef flavor, malt flavoring, seasoning, enzymes, chicken flavoring or natural chicken flavor. Be wary, if you are sensitive to MSG and experience burning sensations in your arms or neck, dizziness or headaches after eating certain foods, of foods whose labels simply list "spices."
Foods Containing Yeast Extract
Any food containing yeast extract always contains monosodium glutamate, or MSG, according to Vanderbilt University. The word "yeast" is commonly used to avoid listing the ingredient as MSG. Alternate names may be listed as yeast nutrient, yeast food or autolyzed yeast. Another name for MSG, according to Bastyr University, is hydrolyzed protein. Any ingredient listed as protein-fortified or hydrolyzed, fermented, enzyme-modified or ultra-pasteurized often contains MSG or creates glutamic acid during processing, according to Vanderbilt University. Other hidden names for MSG are whey protein, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate and textured protein.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Monosodium Glutamate: MSG: Is It Harmful?
- Vanderbilt University: Migraine Headaches and Monosodium Glutamate: MSG
- California State University, Dominguez Hills: Common and Trade Names of Chemicals
- Truth in Labeling: Names of Ingredients That Contain Processed Free Glutamic Acid: MSG
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Science Bastyr University: Hidden MSG
Member Comments