QUESTION: I've heard that many people get sick after eating Chinese food because they have a bad reaction to monosodium glutamate.
What is MSG? Why isn't it banned if so many people get sick from it?
ANSWER: It has never been proven conclusively that monosodium glutamate makes people sick.
MSG is a popular flavor enhancer, not only used by the Chinese in cooking, but in many prepared foods.
MSG is most often made from molasses derived from sugar beets.
The molasses is fermented to form the flavor enhancer. MSG has gotten a bad name following an outburst of publicity about something known as Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.
After eating at a Chinese restaurant, many people report symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, palpitation, weakness, nausea and vomiting. Researchers investigating these symptoms found that MSG in ordinary quantities produced only transient symptoms in a small percentage of problems.
They suggested that many of those experiencing Chinese restaurant syndrome had taken in MSG on an empty stomach, and that may have caused the adverse reaction.
Individuals sensitive to MSG were found to have no reaction to the additive if they ate a carbohydrate, such as bread, before consuming MSG. The Food and Drug Administration has not banned monosodium glutamate because it is not viewed as a health problem affecting a significant percentage of the population. Studies in the early 1980's, in fact, showed that MSG is quite safe. However, I don't doubt that there are a number of people who are sensitive to MSG and who must remain alert to its presence in food to avoid unwanted and unnecessary reactions.
They must firmly request that their choices be prepared without adding this product or, very simply, eat at another type of restaurant.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
