Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is in a wide number of foods. This has led to some health concerns because an undetermined number of people seem to have adverse reactions to MSG. These can include headache, nausea, and rapid heartbeat. Other concerns about MSG suggest that it may have a mild neurotoxic effect on the brain. In mice studies, MSG has damaged the brains of infant mice. This evidence alone is enough for many to want to avoid MSG whenever possible, since it is an unnecessary food additive, though it frequently enhances the flavor of foods.

If you are interested in avoiding MSG, you should know that the US Food and Drug Administration does require foods containing MSG to list it as an ingredient. You will commonly find MSG in foods like canned soups, instant noodles, almost all fast foods, many chips and other snack foods, frozen dinners, salad dressings, grill spices, and in most chicken and beef stock. MSG is a frequent ingredient in Asian foods, not simply limited to Chinese food. Many Chinese restaurants now offer MSG free foods or can prepare MSG free food upon request.

The trouble with MSG is that most people summarize that adverse reactions to it are to the glutamate component. There are many other glutamate-based additives that do not have to be labeled as containing MSG. For those who wish to avoid glutamate-based foods, you should look for these related additives on food labels.

These may be classed as seasonings, natural flavorings, hydrolyzed soy protein, soy extract, hydrolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, autolyzed yeast, textured protein, soy sauce, protein isolate, modified corn starch, yeast extract, and modified food starch. Since the FDA currently does not consider glutamate to be hazardous to human health, there are no laws requiring products to state that they contain glutamate. Further, some labels may be misleading because they advertise, “Contains no MSG,” but still contain some form of glutamate.

In order for glutamate to be appropriately labeled, the FDA would have to enact new laws, which might make it easier for people to identify whether or not they are purchasing a product with glutamates. Some feel this is exactly what the FDA should do, yet others argue that MSG has been demonized by a few who have allergic reactions to it, while most have no problems consuming it. They point to the high number of people who regularly consume MSG with no apparent adverse effects.