MSG Side Effects: What is MSG in Food and How Monosodium Glutamate Can Have Negative Effects

Learn about MSG, one of the most popular food additives used around the world by the food industry. Learn why MSG is used, which foods contains it, hidden sources of MSG, and possible dangerous negative side effects of MSG.

What is MSG?

MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a chemical additive commonly used by the food industry as a “flavor enhancer”. MSG is an extremely potent chemical stimulator with no substitute on the horizon. It has been used by the food industry and in many food types since it was first commercialized in Japan in 1909.

Chemically speaking, MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid (thus, the name monosodium glutamate).

Glutamic acid was first isolated from gluten (wheat) and it was discovered as “the essence” of the tastiness of great soups prepared in Japan.

In addition to MSG, there are other flavor enhancers use by the food industry such as disodium 5’-inosinate (IMP) and disodium 5’-guanylate (GMP).

Why Is MSG Used in Foods?

The main use of MSG around the world is for a flavor enhancer. A flavor enhancer is a substance that is added to a food to supplement or enhance its original taste or flavor. Another term commonly used for substances such as MSG is that of flavor potentiator.

Foods Containing MSG and Hidden Sources of MSG

MSG is used around the globe in soups and broths, sauces, gravies, and flavoring and spice blends. MSG is also present in a variety of processed foods such as canned and frozen meats, fish, poultry, vegetables, and ready-to-eat food plates, dressings, ketchup, mayonnaise, soy sauce, sausages, snacks, some processed cheeses, soup powders for instant noodles, etc.

MSG usage is sometimes “hidden” in food labels under different names. If you see “natural flavorings”, “hydrolyzed protein” and “spices” in a food label you are probably seeing a hidden way to “report” MSG in a food label, so be aware of the presence of MSG on foods that you thought were MSG free.

Can MSG and its Side Effects be Bad for You?

In the United States, MSG is included in the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list of food ingredients by the US Food and Drug Administration along with salt, pepper, sugar, and vinegar. The Scientific Committee of the European Union also recognizes MSG as safe and in Japan MSG is a food additive allowed to be used with no limitation. However, in 1968 some people reported having “symptoms of burning, numbness, and a tight sensation in the upper part of the body“ after having had a meal at a Chinese restaurant (Kwok, 1968). This was called the Chinese Restaurant Syndrome (CRS). Immediately CRS was suggested to be associated with MSG consumption but no conclusive data was found to prove that there were immediate side effects.

According to Russell Blaylock, author of a book titled “Excitotoxins the Taste that Kills”, MSG is an excitotoxin, which basically means, a chemical substance that excite your neurons (brain cells) and that may cause its death. Blaylock proposes that excitotoxins, like MSG, may aggravate many neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. MSG (and exitotoxins) side effects may include seizures, brain cell and damage, allergies, rashes, asthma attacks, headaches, and brain tumors.

Sources:

Kwok, H.M. 1968. Chinese-restaurant syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine. 4: 796.

Blaylock, R. L. 1996. Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills. Health Press. ISBN: 978-0929173252

12 Comments

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Nov 3, 2009 7:33 PM

Laurina M

MSG and psoriasis

I have for 3 years been fighting psoriasis on the soles of my feet. After having them almost cleared up, I had a meal at an unfamiliar Chinese restaurant with a group of people, Not knowing the menu, I served myself from the buffet without thinking of MSG as I had not had migraines for many years. Within 1/2 hour or eating, my feet began to feel hot, red, swollen and tight, worsening my psoriasis. I am obviously highly allergic to it in more ways than one. I have since found several other triggers including rubber, latex, and pork. MSG is crippling for my feet for weeks, even in tiny amounts, yet it is hidden in more and more prepared foods. AVOIDANCE is the key, and so I now read ALL LABELS, and seldom eat out any more. My breathing is much shallower, and voice very raspy, I pray that as my system cleanses itself, perhaps this too might be remedied. I don't go anywhere without antihistamines on hand. So far nothing life-threatening, but certainly CRIPPLING effects are not much better. Neither my doctor, nor the dermatologist had suggested the psoriasis could be due to allergies.

Oct 27, 2009 9:32 AM

Louise N

MSG

No spice is safe. I have swollen eyes, mouth lesions, rushes in neck, on forehead, under eyes, on eye lids, swollen legs, swollen feet, bladder infection, bleeding stomach, shortness of breath, etc, all due to MSG. Busy detox chemical poison from my body. Please read lables and beware of hidden MSG. They are busy killing us.

Sep 25, 2009 4:03 PM

k. king

reaction to MSG

I have been having trouble with msg for about 15 years. I have to be very careful with my diet due to this product, and my bodies reaction to it. I first get a warm feeling in my head, then I feel strange listless and tired, sick to my stomach, then I begin to shake, I can"t breath, my throat feels real thick as if im not able take enough air through my nose. Im very cold, my hands and feet get cold as ice. The reaction is measurably more intense according to the amount I consume and my degree of tolerance. It is a very scary feeling each time I eat something and I arm per sa Poisoned by my meal. I never eat Chinese food, or anything else with that on the lable.

Sep 25, 2009 7:57 AM

alex Jacques

msg

my reaction to MSG was a swelling around the mouth and throat. I ended up in the hospital twice from these side affects. Finally keeping a sharp eye for MSG in foods, Last trip to the hospital I was warned that I could have died from not being able to breathe. Since then I have purchased a new set of false teeth and found that the side affects were much less. It is my own conclusion that the MSG was entering my blood through abrasions in my mouth caused by my previous false teeth. I avoid MSG as much as possible. Though it is a difficult thing to do when using processed foods. Thank you..Alex

Sep 19, 2009 7:55 AM

Margaret

MSG

My family ate at our usual chinese resturant last night. I have never had any real problems with the food there before. But last night as I was eating I could feel it. Started feeling just something not quite right in my stomach, barely noticable. I should have stopped right there and quit eating the food but wasn't sure why I was feeling that way so I continued to finish my meal. It got worse going to the car feeling somewhat sick to my stomach. By the time I got home and we were getting out to come in the house I was feeling worse like shakey and weak and nausiated. After I got in the house I checked my heart rate and it was over 100 and I had rapid breathing. I was starting to get very concerned. I had never before had any kind of reaction like this. I knew it was the food because it started when I was eating. It was scary. I have been avoiding food with msg in them when I shop but now I will be more careful about the places I eat out at also. I'm very greatful it wasn't my kids because they are small.

Sep 11, 2009 5:45 AM

manda

warried

how can peopel put this s$#$#$ in food my sun love cheese puffs

Sep 6, 2009 11:04 AM

Frances Kazemi

sleeplessness

Work in a restaurant which makes soups with a Campbell's Soups as a base. At night couldn't sleep.
Have always been a deep sleeper so I looked up the recipe and checked the ingredients on the soup can.
Stopped eating the soup and sleep soundly.
Also one night had to get up and sitting in the living room felt I was going crazy. Wondered had anyone at work put some drug in my drink.

Sep 4, 2009 8:07 PM

Anonymous

MSG..Dangerous

My daughter has chinese food last Sunday and woke up Monday morning with a rapdi heart beat.. she felt like someone stabbed her in the heart and rapid breathing. I was at work and she was able to call 911.. my daughter was rushed to the hospital and while at the hospital had a seziure.. She was in the hospital for 3 days getting numerous test. It was until today when I thought about the chinses food and looked up msg.. This is serious and scary...My daughter is home and doing well now

Sep 2, 2009 9:52 AM

Joyee

MSG

I love eating at KFC and love cooking, too. I somehow got hold of their recipe book on internet and found that MSG and potassium was added at well above alarming rate.

MSG - Monosodium Glutamate is widely known as AJINAMOTO in Asia. It resembles nicotine in cigarettes. It is addictive - like alcohol and nicotine, and has same withdrawal symptoms and hangover.

Stay away from American and Japanese processed and preserved foods - all of them if possible. Even Lays chips contain MSG, lets just not talk about KFC and McDonald's. Japanese allow unlimited use of MSG - it's as having unlimited cigars, the choice is yours.

Kolkata - INDIA, 02.09.09

Aug 24, 2009 5:38 PM

Gregory M

RE: Dangerous Side Effects of MSG and Foods That Contain It

I ate chinese at the airport last night and immediately felt different after finishing the meal. The food definitely tasted a little too good for a simple. The reason they put MSG in the food in the first place is for people to eat more. No wonder people eat out all the time and are so fat and sickly these days.

The next day I felt tired and depressed and felt out of sorts all day. I immediately suspected the chinese that I ate last night. So I searched the internet and found this sight. I don’t eat out too much in the first place but from now will avoid mass produced processed food.

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