What Do You Guys and Gals Think Of MSG?

[solar]

I was looking at some sauces and marinades the other day, and I always look at the ingredients to see what's in them. Anytime I see MSG on the label I put it back on the shelf, it just seems like cheating to me.

 

[flagriller]

I do the same. No MSG here.

 

[lcruzen]

I try to stay away from it.

 

[invader q]

I've got some family and friends that are sensitive to MSG, so I leave it out. Don't want to make my guests sick.

 

[big bob]

Never Use the nasty stuff

 

[solar]

Read your labels well, it's in a lot of marinades and sauces.

 

[vlap]

As bad as it may be try a dash in your next sauce and see the difference. It adds a richness that is very nice. I do not use it personally but it does work.

 

[tasunkawitko]

i like the flavor that it provides, but don't consider it necessary. if a recipe calls for it, i use it. if a recipe of my own can be improved by it, i use it.

otherwise, it languishes on the shelf. every now and then, i use it for popcorn.

 

[richoso1]

I don't use it for health concerns.

 

[solar]

No doubt about it works, just seems wrong to me, there's some really good sauces out there without it, but I was really surprised how many of the "specail labels" touted as homemade and secret recipe had it.

 

[daddio]

msg free zone here,i never use it and stay away from anything with it in there alot of people have developed allergies to the stuff so it's a no go here

 

[chef_boy812]

I go for the msg free, myself as well, but through research and trial and error, I like to use dry pocini mushrooms that I grind into a powder. it brings a rich meaty, smokey earthiness. THE UMAMI flavor is the same as the MSG.

try it out, I even sprinkle it on jerkies. awesome stuff.

 

[supervman]

My Wife can NOT handle the stuff. Period. She whipped me a bottle of spice to see if it had MSG in it and - while I SWEAR I could have read it the day before - it was time for reader glasses.

Long arm syndrome for sure! :)

Gotta be careful they pump that stuff into ALL kinds of things.

I just spice it up like the others here and food is fine.

 

[travcoman45]

It don't appear in any a my sauces, grandad would turnover in his grave ifin I did!

 

[capt dan]

funny you should mention it. I don't use it, and try to stay away from it in recipes. Here's why. A few years back, I got an email (wish I could find it) that talked about the use of MSG and the findings through studies that it has certain health issues for some, and the fact that in tests, it actually made lab animals and people over eat. I wish I could find the document, but it pretty much said that the chemical properties made the average person eat more, even if they were already full, and a reason alot of companies use it and resturants was to sell more product. Myself, I got a big enough job keeping myself from eatting to death, so I really don't need any outside help. This site is bad enough!

 

[monty]

I remember reading something similar to Capt Dan's statement about Monosodium Glutimate.

In addition to being a flavor enhancer it also affects the endocrine system in a way that is really not healthy. It also remains in the system longer and for those who are sodium sensitive or on low sodium diets this also is not good.

I am MSG free and would encourage others to also follow that line.

Additionally, if a recipe calls for it I do not use the recipe. If a recipe cannot bring full flavor without cheating then the recipe is junk. Period.

Just my .02

Cheers!

 

[dennisdocb]

No go here also.

 

[desertlites]

I agree Monty

 

[supervman]

There's articles on "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" some say it's real others (probably the restraunteurs) say it's not so.

All I have to do is see what happens to my Wife when she accidentally gets some and I KNOW it's true.

ALSO, if you're at a restaurant and want to try to get a recipe just say you can't have MSG and ask what's in it. You'd be surprised how many folks tell you EXACTLY what's in it.

Found that one out by accident tryin to do the right thing.

 

[vortreker]

I use it-I do not consider it "cheating"--why should I? Besides sweet, salty, sour and bitter it is the "5th" taste (known to the orientals for thousands of years) called "umami".

Over the years, the FDA has received many anecdotal reports of adverse reactions to foods containing MSG. These reactions — known as MSG symptom complex — include:

• Headache
• Flushing
• Sweating
• Facial pressure or tightness
• Numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas
• Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Weakness

However, researchers have never found definitive evidence of a link between MSG and these symptoms. 

This nonsense was all started by an apparently hyper-nervous physician that had heart palpitations after eating at a Chinese restaurant and published a paper caled "The Chinese restaurant syndrom". It turned out that he had palpitations before he ever ate there and had them later while not ingesting MSG.

But simply make your own choice. The food with the highest glutamate is Parmesan cheese-tomatoes are second