MSG, a poison or point of food?
MSG 40X Monosodium glutamate (MSG, also known as sodium glutamate) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid , one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids . [Manuf. 1] Monosodium glutamate is found naturally in tomatoes , cheese and other foods. [1] MSG is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer with an umami taste that intensifies the meaty, savory flavor of food, as naturally occurring glutamate does in foods such as stews and meat soups. [2] [3] It was first prepared in 1908 by Japanese biochemist Kikunae Ikeda , who was trying to isolate and duplicate the savory taste of kombu , an edible seaweed used as a base for many Japanese soups. MSG as a flavor enhancer balances, blends, and rounds the perception of other tastes. [4] [5] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given MSG its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) designation. [Gov. 2] A popular belief is that large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort, k
