It may take more than asking for "no MSG" in a Chinese restaurant meal for people who are allergic to this food additive to avoid consuming it.

People whose bodies are sensitive to MSG may suffer symptoms that range from drowsiness and chest pains to asthma and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia.

Still, MSG regularly finds its way into canned foods and soups, packaged spices and salad dressings, and many prepared deli-style foods. It is often thought to be an ingredient specific to oriental cuisine, but MSG can be found in most grocery store items that come in a can, box, or bag.

It is a common component to the average American's daily diet, but it may not be readily recognizable. Most people do not know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes MSG by more than 40 names.

In 1992, the FDA commissioned The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), an independent research organization, to evaluate the effects of MSG on humans. The study was launched after the FDA received an avalanche of complaints and a citizens petition from consumers about the effects of MSG. The final report, submitted to the FDA in 1995, concluded that there was indeed a causal relationship between the reported symptoms and the free glutamates found in MSG. Free glutamates are not bound to a protein molecule, as they are otherwise found in nature.

The same symptoms caused by ingesting MSG could therefore be triggered by any substance containing free glutamates. Substances with names like hydrolyzed protein, autolyzed yeast extract, textured protein, and monopotassium glutamate all contain free glutamates and are considered to be sources of reactions common to people sensitive to MSG.

Recognizing the impact of free glutamates on some humans' health, the FDA issued a statement in a release that followed the official report's results, saying: "While technically, MSG is only one of several forms of free glutamate used in foods, consumers frequently use the term MSG to mean all free glutamates. For this reason, FDA considers foods whose labels say "No MSG" or "No Added MSG" to be misleading if the food contains ingredients that are sources of free glutamates, such as hydrolyzed protein."

Despite that stance, no further action on changing labeling requirements has been made by the FDA to date. The Truth in Labeling Campaign, begun by a citizens activist group in Illinois, has published a list of all the hidden sources of MSG in an effort to increase consumer consciousness on the issue. The group notes that substances with fairly benign names such as natural flavorings, stock, and seasonings, are all FDA approved MSG-containing (free glutamate) substances common to pre-packaged food. Once again, the FDA admits to the MSG content in all of these substances and even provides the complete list on its online database, but has never taken action on changing labeling laws or requiring a warning statement on products.

(From Health24 News)