A game of hide and seek

Vegetarian Times, Sept, 1998 by Linda Bonvie, Bill Bonvie

Supermarket aisles have become rather popular spots for reading--labels, that is. Savvy shoppers can often be found checking for unwelcome additives like sulfites, hydrogenated oils and aspartame. But no matter how careful you are, if you're looking to avoid the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG), studying the label won't do much good.

Labels that tout "no MSG" or fail to list it are often not telling the whole story. Current labeling laws do not require manufacturers to list the contents of ingredients. MSG, therefore, may be concealed in dozens of commonly used additives--including hydrolyzed soy protein and yeast extract--found in many processed foods. And according to a recent court case, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) isn't required to make those companies state where MSG may be lurking. So you could be consuming a lot more of this controversial compound than you think. And that could be downright dangerous.

Reactions to MSG (recorded by consumer groups as well as the FDA) include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, seizures, arrhythmia, asthma and depression. While small amounts of natural glutamate are found in fresh vegetables like tomatoes and mushrooms, this unprocessed compound has not been associated with any of the health risks of processed glutamate, MSG's main ingredient. Russell Blaylock, M.D., associate professor of neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi and author of Exitotoxins:

The Taste That Kills (Health Press, 1994), cites published research showing that processed glutamate can cause brain cells to die. Those most at risk are children and the elderly. MSG enters their brains more easily because their blood-brain barriers are not fully developed or weakened by age.

Even so, the FDA and the International Hydrolyzed Protein Council, a trade group in Washington, D.C., insist there's no difference between processed and natural (unprocessed) glutamate. But the Truth in Labeling Campaign (TLC), a nonprofit consumer group in Chicago, seriously disagrees. The group joined with doctors, researchers and parents of MSG-sensitive children in a lawsuit filed against the FDA demanding "full and clear labeling" of all products containing MSG.

But last March, their three-year legal battle came to a halt when the court ruled in favor of the FDA. In fact, the FDA didn't have to produce much of an argument at all, except to say that it doesn't believe MSG poses any threat. TLC tried, unsuccessfully, to get consumer testimony documents considered by the court, but its motion was denied. "The FDA has relied on glutamate-industry sponsored studies that are terribly flawed," says TLC president Jack Samuels, whose firsthand experiences with MSG include disorientation and dangerously low blood pressure.

A determined Samuels says the organization will continue its efforts to mandate labeling. "There's no question that millions of people suffer adverse reactions to MSG," he says. "The lack of full disclosure of MSG should be everyone's concern."

RELATED ARTICLE: What's in a Name?

The absence of the words "monosodium glutamate" may not be enough to guarantee that a product is MSG free. Here's what to look for on the label.

Ingredients that always contain MSG: hydrolyzed protein; textured protein; sodium caseinate; calcium caseinate; yeast extract; autolyzed yeast

Ingredients that may contain MSG: stock; broth; bouillon; seasonings; natural flavorings For example, stock may be made with autolyzed yeast and sodium caseinate: both contain MSG, but only "stock" would be required to be listed.

For more information contact: Truth in Labeling Campaign (312) 642-9333; www.truthinlabeling.org.

No MSG; (800) BEATMSG; www.nomsg.com;