I keep a list of the alternative names handy, but even so, sometimes it slips past me and I end up with a reaction. When I'm eating something that's pretty ordinary, but it gives me a 'I can't get enough of this' kind of feeling, I can pretty much assume that there's some MSG hidden in there somewhere.

I really wish manufacturers would just stop using it in all it's forms. Using honest, real herbs and spices are a much healthier way to go.

Just a note for anyone who really is sensitive to MSG. When going out to Asian restaurants, it really doesn't matter if they claim to not use MSG, as most of the imported sauces and other ingredients that they use will contain it already. They may not add any while they're cooking, but most of the dishes will still contain it, if only in small amounts.

And that's one of the huge reasons why I make my own soup, salad dressings, sauces and almost never use spice blends...I just mix my own!
Linda C

The fifth glutamate based taste receptor momj47 mentions is called 'umami' or a protein based 'savory, delicious' (discovered in 1908 by the Japanese so hence given a Japanese name). Wikipedia link below.

I don't have bad reactions to MSG (so far, I know that will change as I get older) and in fact I find myself strangely trying to get the last drop out of the pouches of Trader Joe's Savory Broths, which have yeast extract as an ingredient (these are the same ones which tout 'low sodium' - 360 mg per pouch, ouch).

Here is a link that might be useful: Umami on wikipedia

Good to know. That stuff gives me killer headaches!

Yep, Linda, that's one of the many reasons I try to make my own, too.

Linda

This reminds me - A little while back I saw a delivery truck unloading at a Chinese place next door. Among other things, big barrels labled "100 lbs MSG". I don't think I have a reaction to MSG (just like most of the population, at least before it became vogue in the 80's) but I must say that was pretty unappetizing!

My mother sprinkled accent on foods like some people use salt....and I followed in her footsteps....always that red box sat with the salt and pepper. And I LOVED Ranch dressing....kept envelopes of the stuff and sprinkled it into chip dips and even on cottage cheese.....and I got frequent headaches...
Every time we went out to eat, I got a headache....and I always had Ranch dressing...and likely they sprinkled MSG on my steak or chicken...
Finally I read about some people getting headaches from the stuff....and laid off....and my headaches quit.
And I had another friend who would get killer headaches...just laid him low...I remember being at dinner parties....and after appetisers...he would get a head ache and have to go home....and finally he too figured it out.
Don't know if it's actually an allergy...but it sure makes me feel awful.
Linda C

I don't get headaches from it and can take it in small doses. But I get a bad reaction from it in hot soups - I guess the method of delivery helps it get into your system. I start getting a tightness in the back of my neck that spreads up my head and then I get dizzy. Very weird and not good.

So I stay away from having the soups at Chinese restaurants.

We've posted about MSG before - and it's a heavy-duty and complicated subject, but very generally, manufactured MSG is not the same as the glutamic acid naturally occurring in foods, and is not handled by our bodies in the same way. There is increasing evidence that the manufactured stuff has all kinds of bad and cumulative effects on us. One fact that is discussed is that pharmaceutical companies are now researching glutamate-blockers for the purpose of combatting Alzheimer's disease.

At any rate, I think we will be hearing a lot more about MSG in the future, and I think this additive as well as others is a big reason to stay away from processed foods as much as you can.

I've always tried to stay away from MSG, but I didn't know about the other forms. With my SIL a vegetarian, we used a lot of soy crumbles, now I know it's just MSG in another format! Now I have to look out for all of them.

After reading this post I did a little checking on my
own... Mainly because I'm looking for healthy ways to feed hubby... A few days ago I bought a product called Smart Ground by Lightlife... The second ingredient is Soy Protein Concentrate first being water... I called their 1-800 number and the person assured me there was no MSG in any of their products... Just to make sure I did a little more checking and found this site...
SoyInfo
 Soy Protein Concentrate is one of the three items the site says should be limited.

They feed MSG to lab rats and mice to fatten them up to test diabetes medicines since they can get a consistant weight gain on that stuff. And they wonder why Americans are so fat....DUH. I read that one of the biggest users of MSG is KFC.

Okay that's a bit scary..Kamren won't be happy when I tell him no more Doritos!!!

I picked up lunch at Taco Bell just now, after a doc appointment. Brought it back to the office and guess what ingredient is listed last on the hot sauce packet? "Natural Flavoring (Soy)" -- natural my a$$! The thing is, the food industry wants to propagandize that this stuff is natural when it is not.

This is why I stay away from fast food and Chinese take out. One meal will put me out of commision for 3 days or more.

i'm currently reading Excitotoxins by Russell Blaylock - mentioned in soyinfo link by ritaotay. very interesting. and scary.