Monosodium Glutamate
You probably associate Monosodium Glutamate with Chinese food but did you know it can be found in most processed food? What is it and is it safe?

You may have heard of 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome'. This is the reaction to monosodium glutamate (MSG), widely used in western Chinese restaurants, experienced by a minority of people. They suffer a range of symptoms including nausea, rapid heartbeat, headaches, chest pains and a general feeling of weakness.

So is the use of MSG something that should concern us?

Generally, most of us are consuming MSG every time we eat prepackaged foods. It is found in foods as diverse as soups, crisps and salad dressings. It's usually shown on labels as E621 and is used as a flavour enhancer. It stimulates taste buds in our mouths to get a 'meaty' or savoury flavour from food.

Research
Because of its extensive use, MSG has been studied by many researchers all over the world. The numerous studies seem to conclude that while a small number of people may experience adverse effects, the vast majority have no reaction to it at all.

In the USA, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) did their own research and found that some people suffering from poorly controlled asthma may be predisposed to experience a reaction to MSG. They found no evidence to connect it to other diseases like Huntingdon's Chorea, AIDS or Alzheimers, nor did they find any evidence that it causes brain lesions.

Effects on Children
The UK's Hyperactive Children's Support Group does implicate MSG in hyperactivity. They did a study in association with the University of Surrey that found 59% of 357 hyperactive children reacted to MSG with a range of symptoms including stomach cramps, headaches, dizziness and behavioural problems.

In the light of this research, if a child is hyperactive, it is probably advisable to try to avoid all additives in food wherever possible. The UK Government advises that children below the age of three should not eat food containing MSG. When you consider that it is found in crisps (potato chips), burgers and sausages, this is harder than it sounds.

Conclusion
If you have never experienced an adverse reaction to MSG, then it is probably safe for you to eat food containing it. If you have had a reaction or just want to avoid it, read the labels on food, better still, cook fresh food rather than using prepackaged products. Home made burgers are always tastier than any bought in a supermarket.

Avoid giving products containing MSG to very young children and cut them out of the diet of any child with behavioural problems, especially hyperactivity and see if this is beneficial.

Further Reading
Food Additives : A Shopper's Guide To What's Safe & What's Not, 2001 Revised Edition from Amazon.com

New E. for Additives from Amazon.co.uk

A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Add/ADHD Behavior-Change Resource Kit from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

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Copyright © 2004 Carol Fisher. All Rights Reserved.