What is monosodium glutamate (MSG) used for?
It is used as a flavour enhancer in processed foods in some restaurants and is even sold as a separate product in some grocer stores. This is the odd thing because apparently, MSG has no distinct flavour on its own. It is the sodium salt of glutamic acid (an amino acid) and a form of glutamate. It is made by a fermenting process using starch, sugar beets, sugar cane, or molasses. There have been some reports that suggest MSG can have adverse reactions in people who consume it, so it is not as prevalent as it once was. For more information on these reports visit http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/msg.
