What is MSG?
Japanese cooks have traditionally used Kombu (seaweed), to flavour broth and stew. In 1908 a Japanese scientist, named Kikunae Ikeda, became curious about why his wife used Kombu to season the family's soup. Later Ikeda isolated the flavour enhancing component of kombu. He identified it as sodium salt of glutamic acid, or monosodium glutamate. By 1933, monosodium glutamate had become an important, even a predominant, ingredient in flavouring Asian food. But, it wasn't until World War II that the United States became intrigued by this potent flavour enhancing powder.
Japanese cooks have traditionally used Kombu (seaweed), to flavour broth and stew. In 1908 a Japanese scientist, named Kikunae Ikeda, became curious about why his wife used Kombu to season the family's soup. Later Ikeda isolated the flavour enhancing component of kombu. He identified it as sodium salt of glutamic acid, or monosodium glutamate. By 1933, monosodium glutamate had become an important, even a predominant, ingredient in flavouring Asian food. But, it wasn't until World War II that the United States became intrigued by this potent flavour enhancing powder.
Where can we find MSG?
In almost everything. The canned food, the Doritos, the potato chips, salad dressings.. Some products have something called Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate. MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who catch on.
In almost everything. The canned food, the Doritos, the potato chips, salad dressings.. Some products have something called Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate. MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who catch on.
Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant, even the sit down ones use MSG in abundance. Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG is in every chicken dish, salad dressing and gravy. Some blame obesity on MSG. They say MSG is so addictive that people keep coming to places like Mc Donald's because they 'need' it for thei addiction.
Great link: http://chinesefood.about.com/od/healthconcerns/p/MSG.htm
