Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese chemist, discovered in 1908 the taste enhancement of monosodium glutamate when he was preparing a Japanese dish using seaweed called konbu. Ikeda found that monosodium glutamate, or MSG, added a savory flavor called umami. Since its inception, MSG has been used in many foods around the world including broths, soups, meats and some sauces. Food labels that list hydrolyzed protein, glutamic acid, yeast extract and sodium or calcium caseinate as ingredients contain some form of MSG.
Fast Food
Since MSG is an ingredient that adds a savory flavor, it's found in several foods that people consume on a daily basis including fast foods. McDonald's grilled chicken fillets and grilled chicken Caesar salads and KFC's crispy twister and tender roast sandwiches contain MSG, flavorings that contain MSG or enzymes that produce MSG when they interact with other proteins.
Snack Foods
Some potato chips and other snack foods contain MSG. Doritos and Pringles potato chips contain MSG as well as some varieties of Planters salted nuts. Other flavored potato chips may contain MSG. Some candies, gum and fruit snacks use a form of MSG for flavoring. Yogurt, which is seemingly a healthy snack, sometimes contains MSG along with other processed dairy products.
Vegetables and Seasonings
Some vegetables naturally contain glutamic acid like tomatoes and mushrooms. As these foods are processed, the levels of free glutamate increase. Seasoning blends sometimes contain MSG in their mix while soy sauce naturally contains the flavoring.
Pre-packaged Foods
Pre-packaged foods often contain MSG. Some cheeses, canned soups and broths and pre-made meals contain MSG. Some instant noodles, pre-made salad dressings, gravies, sauces and frozen meals use MSG for flavoring. To limit your consumption of MSG in all its forms, prepare meals from scratch.
Meats
Packaged meats usually employ MSG to produce a flavorful product. Bacon, frozen hamburgers, canned meats and lunch meat often contain MSG. Several eat-in restaurants such as Applebee's and Denny's use MSG in many meat entrees. Purchase fresh-cut meat to avoid this flavor enhancer.
Sugar-free Products
Overweight or obese individuals sometimes opt for sugar-free products in an effort to control their blood-glucose levels or lose weight. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is commercially marketed as NutraSweet and Equal and is found in approximately 6,000 foods in the world. It is composed of aspartic acid and phenylalanine and breaks down to MSG in the body. Some sugar-free products contain aspartame like cookies, ice creams, some carbonated and powered drinks, dessert mixes, gelatins, frozen desserts and some vitamins.
References
- "Journal of Chemical Education"; The Monosodium Glutamate Story: The Commercial Production of MSG and Other Amino Acids; Addison Ault; March 2004
- EUFIC; The Facts on Monosodium Glutamate; November 2002
- Mayo Clinic; MSG: Is It Harmful?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; Jan. 9, 2010
- Turth in Labeling: Types of Products That Contain MSG
- Chemical & Engineering News: Monosodium Glutamate; A. Maureen Rouhi; July 28, 2003
- Vanderbilt University: Monosodium Glutamate; Lauren Harned
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