MSG and Its Sneaky Cousins

I often pick up the Natural Awakening free magazine, either in the Austin, TX area or this summer, here in Boulder, CO. Reading through, I came up on this smal paragraph regarding MSG and was amazed at what I found out.

It mentions that the U.S. Department of Agriculture does require MSG to be labeled when added as a direct ingredient to any food, though notwhen it is present hidding under the often non-threatening name of one of its many cousins, a few being: hydrolyzed protein, autolyzed yeast or protein concentrate.

MSG is monosodium glutamate.

They can also be identified by “term,” such as vegetable broth or chicken broth. Yes, broth! Vegetable broth contains hydrolyzed soy protein.

The following all contain synthetically produced glutamates*:

• canned tuna
• canned soup and stock
• frozen dinners
• frozen seafood
• most fast food
• low fat yogurts
• low fat ice creams
• chips
• nearly everything ranch ro cheese-flavored

(*list taken from Natural Awakening, Boulder)

I got to be very curious about this and did a quick google search, to see what would come up.

Wikipedia defines it as:

Monosodium glutamate, also know as sodium glutamate and MSG, is a sodium salt of the non-essential amino acid glutamic acid. It is used as a food additive and is commonly marketed as a flavor enhancer.

In the truthinlabeling.org site, it states that MSG has been found to cause disorders in the following areas: cardiac, circulatory, gastrointestinal, muscular, neurological, visual, respiratory, urological/genital, skins.

Now I ask you, what’s left? That short list seem to include a good deal of the body’s various systems.

The site provides extensive information, research, and lists. I picked up a couple to show you below.

These ALWAYS contain MSG:

• glutamate
• monosodium and monopotassium glutamate
• glutamic acid
• calcium and sodium caseinate
• gelatin
• textured protein
• yeast nutrient
• yeast extract
• yeast food
• autolyzed yeast
• hydrolyzed protein (any protein that is hydrolyzed)
• hydrolyzed corn gluten
• natrium glutamate (natrium is Latin/German for sodium)

These OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG during processing:

• Carrageenan
• maltodextrin
• natural pork, beef and chicken flavoring, bouillon and broth, stock
• flavor(s), flavoring(s), natural flavor(s) and flavoring(s), seasonings (the word “seasonings”)
• whey protein concentrate, whey protein, whey protein isolate
• citric acid
• ultra-pasterized
• barley malt, malt extract, malt flavoring
• pectin
• protease, protease enzymes, anything enzyme modified, enzymes anything
• soy protein isolate, soy sauce, soy sauce extract, soy protein, soy protein concentrate
• anything protein fortified
• anything fermented

Ways to hide MSG: calling anything proteinindicates that is has been hydrolyzed, at least in part, and that processed free glutamic acid (MSG) is present. It does not matter what word you see in front, it contains MSG. With the whole protein craze out there, MSG presence is actually spreading. Just look around, everywhere you look you see: soy protein, whey protein, corn protein, pea protein, etc. yep, all contain MSG.

Shampoos, hair conditioners and cosmetics with the words “hydrolyzed,” “amino acids,” and/or “protein” contain MSG.

ALL low fat and even no fat milk products contain MSG -yogurt, ice creams, cheeses, creams, etc.

Most, if not all, live virus vaccines contain MSG which cause brain lesions in laboratory animals and endocrine disturbances like obesity and reproductive disorders later in life.

and on and on… visit The Truth In Labeling for a more complete list.

It’s absolutely incredible how toxic we have become, and how the entire system of food manufacturing is feeding us known poisons for the sake of profit.

The lesson here? Opt for healthier choices of whole grains, and whole, fresh fruits and vegetables as much as you can. Stay away from all those hyped up protein powder. You want muscles? Do it the old fashion way, be eating healthy and working out.

And most of all, BE AWARE, and always, always get in the habit of READING LABELS.