To MSG or Not to MSG
I had so much fun writing about cheese yesterday, that today I am going to remain on the topic of controversial food and offer my thoughts about MSG. Quickly thought, while still on the topic of cheese, let me suggest to my Bay Area readers that you visit Cheese Board in Berkeley. It’s the finest cheese shop I know. I can even recommend some favorite cheeses if you like. Now then, MSG.
How many people do you know that talk about MSG like it’s some kind of poison? Perhaps you are even one of those people.
For starters, what is MSG? It’s the abbreviated name of monosodium glutamate, a naturally occurring substance that gives many foods an improved taste. If you have ever seen a list of the five basic categories of taste, MSG is the foundation of the strange-sounding one of the bunch: umami. For reference, the other four are the more pedestrian-sounding sweet, salty, sour, and bitter.
Regarding the safety of MSG, permit me to quote the results of studies conducted in 1993 and 2000: “Research found that while large doses of MSG given without food may elicit more symptoms than a placebo in individuals who believe that they react adversely to MSG, the frequency of the responses was low and the responses reported were inconsistent, not reproducible, and were not observed when MSG was given with food. While many people believe that MSG is the cause of these symptoms, a statistical association has not been demonstrated under controlled conditions, even in studies with people who were convinced that they were sensitive to it.”
What happens to the approximately 1% of the population that is in any way affected by MSG? They get a mild headache after eating some, which goes away with time.
If it is a naturally occurring substance, and safe to eat, why am I making a fuss over MSG? Because fear of it runs high. I read that 1/3 of Americans in a recent study think MSG affects them. This in turn leads to restaurants proudly proclaiming “No MSG” in their food. How sad is that? I avoid those restaurants, just as I’d avoid those that advertised “no salt,” “no sugar,” or “no pepper” as a selling point.
I think it’s those signs that add fuel to the fire. Most people have no idea what MSG is, but they see signs all over that shout “No MSG!” and assume that it must be something awful if vendors are so proud to be avoiding it. Restaurants advertise a lack of MSG the same way they’d say “No Rat Droppings” or “Our Food is NOT radioactive,” and it creates a false sense that MSG is something bad.
In fact, MSG makes food delicious. And it’s 100% natural. Seaweed, which few would proclaim unhealthy, has the highest natural content of MSG of any substance. Guess what has the second highest? Parmesan cheese. And third? Tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes. I wonder how many MSG-phobes avoid pizza? They say ignorance is bliss…
That leads me into what I will try to make a regular feature of my blogs: Today’s Question: When it comes to food, or really, anything in life, do you prefer blissful ignorance or an unhappy truth?
So there it is. Seems we’re again protesting, and today’s protest is against the mindless masses basing their selection of a restaurant on the lack of a healthy, safe ingredient that makes food taste better. What say we educate those poor saps, and in the process lead ourselves to a world full of better food.
yummmm for MSG!
and i’d prefer “blissful ignorance”
friggin cheeseboard… i’ve tried so many times to get their pizza and they’re never open. all 4 yrs at berkeley, and never eaten there. XP Btw, MSG is wonderful stuff…haha.
Okay with your test, you should see how many random ppl run around reading other ppl’s xangas…. *laughs* So hit me up with a comment if you do check enough to notice you got someone new… considering this is not the lastest comment you posted and well I do read most of it. I like the Bee Gees…… um… what else to say that I don’t sound as cheesy as your cheesy board….. *smiles* xanga….. addict…. been here longer than most ppl wow!
@Auriale, I have no idea what that last comment means, but thanks for reading?
people chide vietnamese food for having tons of MSG in the soups. but hey, it tastes good, doesn’t it?