Is MSG hiding in your food? - monosodium glutamate - includes list of common reactions to the food additive

Vegetarian Times, May, 1996

It's called "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome," tingling, shortness of breath and headaches some people get after eating certain salty foods. Most vegetarians don't realize they may be consuming the culprit-glutamic acid, commonly called MSG--every day. That's why a consumer group has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking for clear labeling of hidden MSG in foods. The FDA agrees there is a problem, but says it has no plans to issue new regulations.

MSG, a synthetic flavor enhancer added to savory foods, can cause numbness, rapid heartbeat, tingling, dizziness, and migraine headaches in sensitive individuals. (Glutamic acid occurs naturally in tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, but the manufactured additive is the only kind known to cause reactions.

Experts disagree on what percentage of the population is affected by NEG, and how much is needed to cause a reaction. The FDA says 2 percent of the population suffers side effects after eating MSG; this is based on studies by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology funded by the glutamate industry. In contrast, other studies published in peer-reviewed journals suggest that up to 43 percent of the population has an adverse reaction to MSG. Even the FDA admits that pregnant women, infants and children should avoid the additive.

But according to Jack Samuels, head of Chicago-based Truth in Labeling Campaign and one of the 30 plaintiffs in the consumer suit, no one can avoid MSG. That's because foods such as yeast extract, sodium cascinate (a dairy substitute) and textured vegetable protein always contain MSG, while soy sauce, soy protein, barley malt, carrageenan, pectin, and anything containing "natural flavors" usually contain a form of MSG. The, federal government currently says foods containing "significant" levels of MSG must be labeled, but a quick trip to the grocery store suggests that this regulation doesn't provide much guidance to consumers. "There are all sorts of complaints about MSG, " says FDA spokesperson Emil Corwin. The discomfort associated with it is spelled out in the literature. But it is still a matter of discussion. "

That's not good enough for Samuels, who has been trying to get the FDA to label hidden MSG for years, and filed the complaint in 1994 only when the agency didn't respond. In February 1996 the FDA said it needs more time to look into the MSG problem, but would not be more specific. In March, a federal judge rejected the agency's request to get the suit dismissed (the FDA has taken no action on the petition). "One would get the impression that the FDA is more interested in protecting the glutamate industry's interest than consumers," Samuels says.

RELATED ARTICLE: REPORTED REACTIONS TO MSG

* Burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest

* Numbness in the back of the neck, radiating to the arms and back

* Tingling, warmth and weakness in the face, temples, upper back, neck and arms

* Facial pressure of tightness

* Chest pain

* Headache

* Nausea

* Rapid heartbeat

* Bronchiospasm in MSG-intolerant people with asthma

* Drowsiness

* Weakness

Source: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.