Where is the MSG?

[Mira O'Halloran]

(from wikipedia) the known names are:
Monosodium glutamate,
sodium glutamate,
flavour enhancer 621,
EU food additive code: E621,
HS code: 29224220 (IUPAC name 2-aminopentanedioic acid. Also known as 2-aminoglutaric acid),
commonly known as MSG, Ajinomoto, Vetsin, or Accent, is a sodium salt of glutamic acid.


Well, I've googled it, and here are something rather delightful things I've found:

You'll most likely almost definitely find it here:
* Canned soups.
* Pre-prepared stocks often known as stock cubes.
* Condiments such as barbecue sauce, and soy sauce.
* Frozen dinners.
* Frozen seafood.
* Common snack foods such as flavored potato chips and flavored tortilla chips.
* Most fast food.
* Instant meals such as the seasoning mixtures for instant noodles.

However MSG isn't the only Glutamate you need to look out for:

Copied from Wikipedia:

"Also, MSG is only one of several forms of free glutamate used in foods. Free glutamate may also be present in a wide variety of other additives, including: hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extracts, protein isolate, "spices" and "natural flavorings." The food additives disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate are useful only in synergy with MSG-containing ingredients, and provide a likely indicator of the presence of MSG in a product."


*squeaks* Oh, my gods.. the following website is BRILLIANT It has all of the number thingies listed!

www.distanthealer.co.uk/enumbers.htm (and the following is taken from the same site.)

The capital 'E' in front of the number means that additive has been passed for food use throughout the European Community. (and i think that the numbers are used universally, and the E is the European standards.)
As a general rule, E numbers from E100 -199 are colourings, E200 - 299 are preservatives, E300 - 399 are acids, antioxidants and mineral salts, E400 - 599 are vegetable gums, emulsifiers, stabilisers and anti-caking agents, E600 and above are flavour enhancers, E900 - 1500 are miscellaneous. An E number does not always mean 'artificial' - for example, of the 46 permitted food colours, 21 are "natural" - that is they occur in nature and are extracted from vegetable and animal sources. Of course, the other 25 are "not natural". Many additives just replace a more expensive ingredient with a cheaper one.

My advise to you all - print this list and take it shopping with you.

[Derek Nahigyan]

Thank you for the list of different foods it lies in; that'll make it much easier to avoid.
With all those different names for MSG, it's no wonder it goes overlooked.

[Rook]

With the amount of food production that is harmful to us, and the exceptional effort required to avoid it, it's like we're at war for our health.

[Mira O'Halloran]

As far as I'm concerned it boils down to this - Get all the ingredients fresh and make it yourself.

All the noodles, soups, sushi kits, stock, store bought bikkies and cakes and marshmallows are gone. They were really foods for when I was feeling lazy. No more so. It's also healthier because it's gone through less processing.

You're welcome, Derico, just check the site out... there are some scary things in there... My soymilk has titanium dioxide in it!! *Has a cry* It's really annoying.

As with the infirmary, any questions about foods and colourings and such, aim them my way. I have plenty of time to kill on the net and its handy learning all these things.