Monosodium Glutamate Essay

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Monosodium glutamate is a neurotoxin nerve stimulant which enhances the flavor of processed food such as low fat and vegetarian food which otherwise would be bland and tasteless. MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids. MSG has no nutritional benefits and increases the shelf life, how long the food lasts before going bad, of the food it is in. MSG has been used as a food additive to increase the flavor of bland, tasteless foods for over 100 years. MSG added to foods produces a flavoring function similar to the glutamate that occurs naturally in foods. It adds a fifth taste, called “umami”, which is best described as a savory, broth-like or meaty taste.(a new taste sensation) It is mostly found in Chinese food and in processed foods such as canned vegetables, soups, and a variety of other foods.It has many alias’s which include monopotassium glutamate and vegetable protein extract amongst others. During this time there have been numerous extensive studies conducted to illustrate the role, benefits, and safety of MSG.(Dangers of MSG) As of now, international and national agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consider MSG as a safe substance for human consumption as a flavor enhancer. There is some controversy regarding the safety of MSG, even though there has been no clinical evidence to support claims that MSG is harmful to humans. The FDA has received many reports of negative side effects due to the consumption of foods containing MSG. These reactions are known as the MSG symptom complex and they include: headache, flushing, sweating, facial pressure or tightness, numbness, tingling or burning in the face neck and other areas, heart palpitations, chest pain, nausea, and weakness.(Mayo Clinic) Even though these are claims of symptoms as a result of MSG researchers have found

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