MSG - Monosodium Glutamate, Flavor Enhancing Food Additive

What is Monosodium Glutamate?

May 15, 2010- Monosodium Glutamate or sodium glutamate is the full form for MSG. It is nothing bust a sodium salt derived from the naturally occurring amino acid glutamate acid. It is popularly used a food enhancing food additive. Most of the big names in the food brands and food industry use MSG in amongst other food ingredients. Its HS code is 29224220 and E number E621. MSG patent is owned by Ajinimoto Corporation, Japan and therefore, it is popularly known as MSG ajinimoto. MSG is a stable colorless in solid form that is degraded by strong oxidizing agents. Only the naturally occurring L-glutamate is used a flavor enhancer, which is naturally found in protein rich foods like cheese, milk, walnut, mushroom etc.

Why is MSG used?

MSG is uses for enhancing the flavor of the foods, specially in restaurants and packaged foods. Usually packages foods use low quality ingredients. MSG prevents the food from getting stale and thus increases their shelf life. As a flavor enhancing food additive it has succeeded in nations that do not use other pungent spices, which are majorly the western continents. Monosodium Glutamate, MSG has addictive substances that work like a drug. Heavy use of this additive food additive, monosodium glutamate in junk and snack meals is leading to major obesity issues in the western countries.

MSG Flavor Enhancer

Monosoduim glutamate, or MSG is popular food additive in countries that do not use much of spices and chilly. As a flavor enhancer MSG additive is a found in a number of products, especially in the foods of western countries, like in potato chips, soups, canned gravy, frozen meals, meat tendering. salad dressings and hamburgers. Mostly monosodium glutamate, MSG is found in most of the snack and junk foods.

Monosodium Glutamate, MSG Side Effects

Despite being proved to be a harmless food enhancing additive, monosodium glutamate health related side effects are far too many to be ignored. Numerous people have had serious health issues, side effects and different kinds of allergies related to the monosodium glutamate, MSG. MSG is an excitotoxin, that is, it has chemical transmitters that excite the brain cells to death. Some of the common side effect associated with monosodium glutamate are:

• Headache and migraine problems.
• Breathing disorder.
• It is also known to affect the regular functioning of the brain.
• Diarrhea
• Heart related reactions might occur in many.
• Blood pressure rise.
• Since its addictive, it also leads to obesity.
• Sometimes, monosodium glutamate is also related to diabetes and autism.