Effects of MSG

[sillygoose1987]

I have recently been having a discussion about MSG in cooking. Someone said it makes them feel very sick. Others said that this should not be true. I would be very interested to hear your opinions. Is this something I should be avoiding??

There's a lot of outdated info about MSG. I suggest you read this :-

www.healthline.com/nutrition/msg-good-or-bad#safety

Isnt it mostly a load of racist/xenophobic scaremongering?

For the overwhelming majority of people MSG will be fine. 'Chinese restaurant syndrome' is probably a result of feeling a bit rotten after eating large quantities of salty fatty food than a single ingredient. Glutamates occur naturally in foods like parmesan and tomatoes. Many controlled trials on people who think they are sensitive to MSG haven't been able to find consistent reactions to MSG vs placebo.

I have a very definite sensitivity to MSG. When I eat something with even small amounts in, I'm not able to sleep and get heart palpitations. It takes about 2 days for me to get back to normal. I don't think it's common though and wish I didn't get it!

If I eat anything with MSG in it. I become violently I'll, get the shits within about 10 minutes, then into anaphylactic shock about 10 minutes after that. I can only cook a fake away Chinese now.

I am also allergic to raw meat if touched, same thing happens.

I am now one of those people who has to read the labels on all food stuffs. Don't eat out very often, through fear, as feeling like you are going to die, with the dread and doom that comes with it, as your windpipe slowly closes up, is really not worth the risk.

I get headaches, a terrible taste in my mouth and the runs. It wasn't chinese food for me but tiger bread...which often has msg in the topping. I also had a problem when oxo cubes went reduced salt and added MSG.

I'm slightly allergic - always have been, and it's a pain. If I eat it, I get a splitting headache.

MSG triggers my migraines.

I am unable to eat takeaways due to added MSG in some foods . It makes me unable to sleep and feel wired.

Hmm interesting. For those who have said they have a reaction to it - how do you know it’s the MSG in particular. Is it only Chinese food you find it with or others as well? Thanks for all the responses!

MSG triggers my migraines too. (Along with various other foods.) I can't eat Chinese takeaway, or lots of processed foods because of MSG.

I cook with it all the time, no issues.

My daughter is definitely sensitive to it. She feels sick, can’t sleep, feels wired and has palpitations, to the point she couldn’t go to school the next day as she felt so unwell and hadn’t slept. She has had this reaction each time she eats Chinese takeaway. She is fit and healthy and has no other food intolerances as far as I know. People can be intolerant/allergic to just about anything so it really doesn’t surprise me.
Good point about it possibly being a different ingredient causing the issues, I had jumped straight to MSG after googling it. It could well be something different though.

I cook with it fairly often though not everyday. I haven't noticed any difference after eating it compared to a meal without. Nor has my DH.

I come from a country where it is used in a variety of flavourings and spice packets. Like a packet of onion powder will have MSG in it for instance. When even a spoonful of this is used in food here in the UK, I will be unable to sleep. I also get it after Chinese, fried chicken, soy sauce, and even cheese.

Chinese food is the worst as it's in every dish. I know this as I rang up to ask what I could have that didn't have MSG. There was nothing. I literally have to read labels, but Chinese is the worst. Gravy is another, bisto, but I can have the powder thickening stuff that comes in a box or shops own brand, but have to check. Doritos, ate one of my kids, ill. It's in more than you think. I just cook a lot of homemade now. At least I know what is in it and check everything out. Don't even eat at friends houses, just incase.

I don't understand this at all - MSG occurs naturally in a wide variety of everyday foods. Do pps have these reactions to other foods as well?

I feel like I'm hungover whenever I have a Chinese's takeaway, I have really bad headaches and feel really thirsty. I don't have the same dish every-time either and I don't get this with any other takeaway.

www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/additive-and-natural-chemical-factsheets/621-msg-msg-boosters-flavour-enhancers-and-natural-glutamates

www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/additive-and-natural-chemical-factsheets/635-msg-boosters-ribo-rash-ribonucleotides-627-631

Are you unable to eat any non-takeaway foods?

@Badhairday101

My daughter is definitely sensitive to it. She feels sick, can’t sleep, feels wired and has palpitations, to the point she couldn’t go to school the next day as she felt so unwell and hadn’t slept. She has had this reaction each time she eats Chinese takeaway. She is fit and healthy and has no other food intolerances as far as I know. People can be intolerant/allergic to just about anything so it really doesn’t surprise me. Good point about it possibly being a different ingredient causing the issues, I had jumped straight to MSG after googling it. It could well be something different though.

@Badhairday101- how come you associated this with MSG initially? Did you know about this before I asked or did you google it & then think it was this. Very curious!

@Loopyloulou007

Chinese food is the worst as it's in every dish. I know this as I rang up to ask what I could have that didn't have MSG. There was nothing. I literally have to read labels, but Chinese is the worst. Gravy is another, bisto, but I can have the powder thickening stuff that comes in a box or shops own brand, but have to check. Doritos, ate one of my kids, ill. It's in more than you think. I just cook a lot of homemade now. At least I know what is in it and check everything out. Don't even eat at friends houses, just incase.

@Loopyloulou007 so does you and the kids both feel the same way? Do you know of many others who feel like this or is it mainly your family. Have you experienced this since you were a kid or is it recent?

@Discwriter

I have a very definite sensitivity to MSG. When I eat something with even small amounts in, I'm not able to sleep and get heart palpitations. It takes about 2 days for me to get back to normal. I don't think it's common though and wish I didn't get it!

@Discwriter what kinds of food bring this on if you don't mind me asking!?

[quote TheSandgroper]www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/additive-and-natural-chemical-factsheets/621-msg-msg-boosters-flavour-enhancers-and-natural-glutamates

www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/additive-and-natural-chemical-factsheets/635-msg-boosters-ribo-rash-ribonucleotides-627-631[/quote]
@TheSandgroper - I had a quick look through the links - so do you think MSG should be banned? Have u felt ill from it?

@sillygoose1987 are you writing a research paper?

It's been mostly disproved, and a lot of it is weighted in confirmation bias.