Other Names for MSG

Other Names for MSG 2

Do you know all the other names for MSG? And what is the stuff, anyway?

Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is an artificial flavor found in thousands of processed foods, from fast food, to chips, to soup. While the FDA has classified MSG as "generally recognized as safe," there have been numerous consumer complaints related to adverse reactions to foods containing MSG, including swelling, facial numbness, heart palpitations, nausea and weakness. MSG is used to enhance flavor in foods and is one of the most complained about additives. A reaction to MSG is actually a reaction to free glutamic acid.

MSG is best known as an additive in Chinese food, and there are many names for MSG. It is also used in garlic and onion powder, bouillon, soup stock, seasoning for potato chips and popcorn, and breaded foods such as chicken nuggets. Common symptoms related to ingestion of MSG include:

Other names for MSG include:

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Often, the term ‘natural flavor’ refers to ingredients containing MSG.

Not everyone will react to MSG, so listen to your body. If you feel "off" or exhibit any negative reactions, avoid the ingredients listed above and monitor how you feel.

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Andrea Donsky, RHN
Andrea Donsky, B. COMM is an international TV Health Expert, Best Selling Author, Nutritionist Podcast Host, and Founder of NaturallySavvy.com—a recipient of Healthline’s Best Healthy Living Blogs for 2019. As a pioneer and visionary in the health food industry, Andrea’s passion is to inspire people to make healthier choices. Andrea has combined her background and expertise as both a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and an entrepreneur ("She Boss!") to educate the public on living a healthy lifestyle through the creation of her businesses, books, articles, podcasts, videos, talks, and TV and radio media appearances. Andrea founded Naturally Savvy Media Inc. in 2007 in order to share her passion for healthy living, and love for natural products and companies. Among her numerous publications, Andrea co-authored Unjunk your Junk Food published by Simon and Schuster, a book that journalist, author and mother Maria Shriver endorsed: “Unjunk Your Junk Food has certainly made me more aware about the food that my children eat and the effects it has on our body and mind."</P. Andrea also co-authored two e-books entitled Label Lessons: Your Guide To A Healthy Shopping Cart, and Label Lessons: Unjunk Your Kid’s Lunch Box.