My friend and I love Chinese cuisine but we have heard that MSG is not good for us. What is MSG and can we continue to eat our favorite foods?
MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate. It is comprised of sodium, water and glutamate. MSG is produced in many countries around the world through a fermentation process of molasses from sugar cane or beets, as well as starch and corn sugar. MSG is a widely used flavor enhancer and additive. Many meats, poultry, seafood, snacks, soups and stews use MSG to enhance the natural flavors of the dish. Many researchers believe MSG falls into a separate category of taste, apart from the four basic tastes of sweet, sour, salty and bitter. This distinctive taste, called “umani,” in Japanese, is often described as “savory” by Westerners.
