MSG is the Most Extensively

Researched Food Ingredient

MSG has been the subject of evaluation and re-evaluation as an umami
seasoning throughout its history. The big change in how MSG was seen
occurred in the late 60s, about 50 years after its product launch. At that
time, Dr. Robert Ho Man Kwok wrote an anecdotal report to the New
England Journal of Medicine questioning the safety of MSG. Afterwards
decades of extensive research into MSG’s safety as a food ingredient was
conducted. Time and time again, MSG has been proven safe for
consumption.

Scientific Facts about MSG

Numerous scientific studies conducted by credible organizations like the
World Health Organization, United States Food and Drug Administration,
European Union, and the United Nations affirmed and reaffirmed that MSG
is safe for consumption. Locally, the Philippine’s Food and Drug
Administration includes MSG as one of the “additives permitted for use in
food in general”. For better guidance, refer to this list of scientific facts
about MSG:
1. MSG is not an allergen
For anything to be considered as an allergen, it must contain protein. MSG
contains “free” glutamate” which means it is not linked to any other
molecule and therefore cannot be a protein.

2. MSG does not cause headaches

MSG has been removed in the International Headache Society’s list of
causative factors for headaches in 2018.

3. MSG is not a carcinogen

One of the major illnesses that MSG has been associated with is cancer.
Despite the speculation that MSG might be a carcinogen, reports have
proven that this is not the case. The Food and Drug Administration has
considered MSG as “generally recognized as safe.” Conventional toxicity
studies showed that “using dietary administration of MSG in several
species did not reveal any specific toxic or carcinogenic effects nor were
there any adverse outcomes in reproduction and teratology studies.”
4. MSG does not cause Chinese Restaurant Syndrome
Dr. Raif Salim Geha (known American Immunologist), together with
colleagues for Harvard University, Boston University of Public Health and
University of California conducted a double-blind multicenter placebo test
and concluded, “Neither persistent nor serious effects from MSG were
observed, and the responses were not consistent on retesting.”

5. MSG is not harmful for dogs

A study conducted by the University of the Philippines Los Banos saw 15
dogs given varied dosages of MSG over a 4-month period, with the dogs
receiving no ill effects from the ingredient and remained healthy.