What Are the Symptoms of MSG Allergy?
What Are the Symptoms of MSG Allergy?Answer: MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavor-enhancer added to various foods, and also occurs naturally in seaweed. Adverse reactions to food additives like MSG are probably relatively common. However, since many reactions to food additives are not diagnosed are never reported by people, the exact rate of reactions is not known. Various studies estimate that the rate is probably less than 1% of adults, and up to 2% of children. Reactions to MSG have been called the “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome,” referring to that fact that MSG is commonly found in Asian-style foods. Most people who are affected will experience symptoms shortly after eating foods containing MSG. Typical symptoms include numbness on the back of the neck, shoulders and arms; people can have a sense of generalized weakness, and heart palpitations can occur. Other symptoms include facial pressure, headaches, nausea, chest pain and drowsiness. Studies on MSG causing reactions in peop
