Mmm Mmm Good!
A report compiled in 1995 on behalf of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that MSG was safe for most people when eaten at customary levels. However, it also said that, based on anecdotal reports, some people may have an MSG intolerance which causes "MSG symptom complex." A subsequent study 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 and 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.
The big "scare" was started by people claiming to be allergic to MSG, and no study could show that was actually the case. Yet the widespread phobia of MSG persisted. This is one of those huge public health misconceptions I absolutely cannot tolerate, and can be down right idiocy in some cases.
What is MSG? Monosodium Glutamate. Sodium is an atom of salt, and glutamate is an amino acid. MSG is quite literally salt and protein. The two parts dissociate when mixed in fluids, meaning if you mix MSG in wet foods or when it hits your tongue, you instantly have two very common components to everyday life: salt and protein. The next time someone tells you MSG is bad for you, tell them to go suck a lemon.
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