What Is MSG-and Is It Actually Bad for You?
SELF Magazine • • health
Key Points:
- MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a flavor-enhancing food additive naturally found in many foods and widely used to heighten umami taste, with a history dating back to 1908. It is commonly present in various processed foods beyond Chinese cuisine, such as sauces, dressings, and processed meats.
- The negative reputation of MSG largely stems from a 1968 letter to The New England Journal of Medicine describing “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” which linked MSG to symptoms like numbness and weakness; however, this claim was based on a single anecdote and later investigations suggest the letter's authorship and story are disputed.
- Modern scientific research, including a comprehensive 1995 FDA-commissioned review, finds no credible evidence that MSG
