The dangers of MSG

Heather Little-White, PhD, Contibutor

MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a chemical additive commonly used by the food industry as a 'flavour enhancer'. Many persons know it by the brand name, 'accent'. Some people swear by it and are totally at a loss to flavour their pot if they are out of MSG supplies.

A flavour enhancer is a substance that is added to a food to supplement or enhance its original taste or flavour. Another term commonly used for substances such as MSG is that of flavour potentiator. 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.

Uses

MSG is used around the globe in soups and broths, sauces, gravies, and flavouring 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, and soup powders for instant noodles. Although the main use of MSG around the world is as a flavour enhancer, local food providers could look at integrating natural, local flavour enhancers using herbs and spices.

Hidden sources

MSG usage is sometimes 'hidden' in food labels under different names. If you see 'natural flavourings', 'hydrolyzed protein' and 'spices' in a food label, you are probably seeing a hidden way of listing MSG in it. So, be aware of the presence of MSG on foods that you thought were MSG free.

Reactions to MSG in Food

Proponents of MSG claim that there are no health risks, but some people do experience an unpleasant reaction, known as MSG Symptom Complex. This includes headache, flushing, sweating, fluttering heartbeat, and shortness of breath.

Monosodium glutamate is known to cause a long list of side effects and health problems. Some to watch out for include:

• Allergic reactions
• Asthma attacks
• Burning, numbness, or tingling in or around your mouth
• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Death due to an MSG reaction
• Diarrhoea
• Eye inflammation
• Flushing
• Headaches (including migraine headaches)
• Nausea
• Pressure or tightness in the muscles in your face
• Rapid, fluttering heartbeats
• Shortness of breath
• Stuttering or speech problems
• Sweating
• Weakness.

The long-term effects of MSG consumption include weight gain, brain damage, cancers, fertility problems (for both men and women). Swelling of the brain (brain oedema), type 2 diabetes, heart disease, memory loss; seizures; damage to an unborn child and free-radical damage to your blood vessels, which can result in a heart attack or a stroke.

Effect on children

MSG used to be routinely added to infant formula and baby foods, but the industry stopped using it after the United States congressional hearings in which researchers warned of serious adverse effects on babies consuming those foods.

Babies and children are more sensitive and susceptible to monosodium glutamate than adults, because their bodies and brains are not fully developed yet. Pregnant women should avoid eating anything that contains MSG (natural health restored.com)

Cost factor

Monosodium glutamate and other forms of free glutamic acid can be manufactured cheaply, and sometimes it is even just a by-product of other food processes. Cost is a factor why so many companies continue to use MSG. Big players of well-known brands in the food industry stay united in using MSG through the formation of the Glutamate Association and secret membership in the association.

Imported foods

Jamaica is importing more food than it produces. How are these foods assessed for additives in the absence of a National Food & Nutrition Policy which would have indicators for safe foods for our people? In the 1970s, we were probably more healthy as a nation when we had less imports and there was a reliance on eating what we grow.

Artificial flavours, natural flavours and flavour enhancers added to the corn chips can contain upwards of 200 separate chemicals to make one flavour. Doritos, for example, also contain empty and addictive carbohydrate fillers like MSG, dextrin, maltodextrin, dextrose, flour, a combination of corn oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil and corn syrup solids from genetically modified foods soaked in pesticide. Other fast foods are made up of chemicals to which one can be addicted.

The reason you do not see these chemicals on labels is that the creation of artificial flavours, natural flavours and flavour enhancers (created in laboratories) used in their formulations are considered intellectual property and are protected as though they are "top secret". The corporations' trade secrets are treated with greater respect than the people who eat their food (www.selfgrowth.com).

Gatorade's great new shape!

Now on the shelves for about a month, the newly designed Gatorade bottle has come out of an effort to merge aesthetic appeal and functionality. According to Pepsi's Head of Marketing, Carlo Redwood, the bottle gives consumers a better grip and at the same time looks quite sexy and cool.

With the introduction of the new design, consumers should see a reduction in price, as the suggested retail price is now $100 dollars. "Gatorade was being sold from $150 dollars upwards, but now we are working with the new suggested retail price," says Redwood.

With Gatorade being promoted as an energy drink for athletes, it has been the trend for the company to have an athlete's face endorsing the brand. And in keeping with that trend, the fastest man in the world, Usain 'Lightning' Bolt signed an endorsement deal two years ago with the company.

He recently filmed a commercial for the brand in Jamaica, which will show him sporting the newly designed bottle.

With just the package changing, Redwood says, "It is the same taste, revitalising and rehydrating you when you need it most".

Gatorade is available in Fruit Punch, Orange, Grape, Lemon Lime, Cool Blue and Melon Fierce.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com