Sunday Business Post/ Bumper Crossword
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Is MSG a flavouring for thee.?
13 Answers
We occasionally use MSG (monosodium glutamate ) as a flavour enhancer; especially if we are cooking vegetarian dishes.
MSG is used a lot by manufacturers of ready prepared meals and certainly does appear to give a flavoursome fullness to 'flatish' food.
Has any ABer a view on the matter.?....Perhaps MSG is a substance like salt, sugar. fat etc. which are deemed to be health hazzards.
Should we care, as an O.A.P. pair.?........Viv & Ron.
P.S.....No guarantee we'll accept your advice; but to have a reply would be nice.
MSG is used a lot by manufacturers of ready prepared meals and certainly does appear to give a flavoursome fullness to 'flatish' food.
Has any ABer a view on the matter.?....Perhaps MSG is a substance like salt, sugar. fat etc. which are deemed to be health hazzards.
Should we care, as an O.A.P. pair.?........Viv & Ron.
P.S.....No guarantee we'll accept your advice; but to have a reply would be nice.
Answers
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My husband reacts very badly to any food containing MSG it makes him very breathless and wheezy. It is used a lot in chinese takeaways as it thickens as well as flavours - it gives things that gloopy texture. Therefore, we avoid it completely, but whether average consumption does any harm if you are not sensitive too it, I am not sure.
Personally, I would add fresh herbs, spices and good all salt (in moderation) to your food rather than relying on manufactured stuff.
On the other hand, is it because of the MSG that you cannot reheat chinese food? I know that there is some chemical mainly in chinese/indian takeaways, that when reheated reacts and toxifys and can cause quite serious illness, can't remember if it is MSG though.
Personally, I would add fresh herbs, spices and good all salt (in moderation) to your food rather than relying on manufactured stuff.
On the other hand, is it because of the MSG that you cannot reheat chinese food? I know that there is some chemical mainly in chinese/indian takeaways, that when reheated reacts and toxifys and can cause quite serious illness, can't remember if it is MSG though.
If you're the type of person who throws up their arms in horror when they see an 'E number' on a product, start running about in a blind panic. Otherwise, relax ;-)
MSG is often listed as E621. The whole point about the E-numbers system is that it provides reassurance about the safety of food additives. Anything with an E-number has been extensively tested, and declared safe, by EU scientists. Despite a great deal of scare-mongering, nothing has convinced those EU scientists that they should withdraw MSG from the list of approved additives.
However, there is general agreement among health officials that a low-sodium diet can help to reduce problems with high blood pressure. So it's considered unwise to add too many sodium compounds to food. (This usually refers to common salt but MSG also adds to your sodium intake). So, if you're already cutting back on salt, adding MSG will undo the good work. However, if you're happily throwing loads of salt over your chips, a bit of MSG now and again probably won't make much difference.
Personally, I have no worries about MSG in food. However, if you want something to worry about, read this: http://www.healthdangers.com/drugs/MSG/msg-hea lth-effects.htm
(After you've read it, take a look at the health warnings which accompany such mundane products as medicines for cold relief. If you allowed yourself to be scared by the possible side effects of such things, you'd never take an aspirin! In my opinion, and that of the EU food scientists, the risks from MSG are the same or lower than from many other things we happily put into our mouths).
The Co-op has bowed to pressure from the scare-mongers:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4670953.stm
Others are unconvinced.
MSG is often listed as E621. The whole point about the E-numbers system is that it provides reassurance about the safety of food additives. Anything with an E-number has been extensively tested, and declared safe, by EU scientists. Despite a great deal of scare-mongering, nothing has convinced those EU scientists that they should withdraw MSG from the list of approved additives.
However, there is general agreement among health officials that a low-sodium diet can help to reduce problems with high blood pressure. So it's considered unwise to add too many sodium compounds to food. (This usually refers to common salt but MSG also adds to your sodium intake). So, if you're already cutting back on salt, adding MSG will undo the good work. However, if you're happily throwing loads of salt over your chips, a bit of MSG now and again probably won't make much difference.
Personally, I have no worries about MSG in food. However, if you want something to worry about, read this: http://www.healthdangers.com/drugs/MSG/msg-hea lth-effects.htm
(After you've read it, take a look at the health warnings which accompany such mundane products as medicines for cold relief. If you allowed yourself to be scared by the possible side effects of such things, you'd never take an aspirin! In my opinion, and that of the EU food scientists, the risks from MSG are the same or lower than from many other things we happily put into our mouths).
The Co-op has bowed to pressure from the scare-mongers:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4670953.stm
Others are unconvinced.
We are pleased to have had worthwhile replies so very quickly.
Having read your individual comments and clicked the links provided by Buenchico, we have certainly been given food for thought.
You may be interested to know what prompted our question. It was the teaspoonful of MSG, purposefully put into the saucepan (instead of ordinary salt), along with a teaspoonful of sugar for the boiling of carrots. They were delicious as ever; but we are known to experiment with the root veg.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/ Question373532.html
No doubt , at our age, we'll continue to consume small quntities of MSG, along with salt, sugar, butter etc. in perhaps the mistaken belief that "A little of what you fancy does you good."................V & R.
Having read your individual comments and clicked the links provided by Buenchico, we have certainly been given food for thought.
You may be interested to know what prompted our question. It was the teaspoonful of MSG, purposefully put into the saucepan (instead of ordinary salt), along with a teaspoonful of sugar for the boiling of carrots. They were delicious as ever; but we are known to experiment with the root veg.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/ Question373532.html
No doubt , at our age, we'll continue to consume small quntities of MSG, along with salt, sugar, butter etc. in perhaps the mistaken belief that "A little of what you fancy does you good."................V & R.
i have never heard the thing about MSG (or any other ingredient of indian or chinese take-away) becoming toxic when reheated. our family regularly re-heats leftover take-away chinese or indian the following day, and has done for over 20 years, and none of us have ever suffered as a result. i think it must be some kind of myth.
Thanks BBW for the link. Wikipedia works wonders. We now know a lot more about MSG.
Hi ethandron.....We are wondering also if it's a myth about re-heating Chinese food. What about Supermaket prepared foods which are designed to be re-heated. However there's no doubt that some folk, like annie's husband, do suffer an alergic effect from MSG due to the gluten element involved.
Suprised to have learned from the clickable links that MSG is naturally present in Tomatoes, Mushrooms and, along with many other foodstuffs, is also in Parmesan cheese. Furthermore, MSG it is made from beans and cereal proteins; in the USA it's also made from sugarbeet.
Best wishes everyone........Viv & Ron
Hi ethandron.....We are wondering also if it's a myth about re-heating Chinese food. What about Supermaket prepared foods which are designed to be re-heated. However there's no doubt that some folk, like annie's husband, do suffer an alergic effect from MSG due to the gluten element involved.
Suprised to have learned from the clickable links that MSG is naturally present in Tomatoes, Mushrooms and, along with many other foodstuffs, is also in Parmesan cheese. Furthermore, MSG it is made from beans and cereal proteins; in the USA it's also made from sugarbeet.
Best wishes everyone........Viv & Ron
whiffey, We should have aknowleged that MSG does have an adverse effect on you as well. In fact it appears to effect some folk for as long as 72hrs after eating.
Figi, We can't leave you out, but it's difficult to know what to really say when we are not set against MSG. However we appreciate your having voiced your opinion and having taken the time to respond to us. Kind thoughts.....V & R.
Figi, We can't leave you out, but it's difficult to know what to really say when we are not set against MSG. However we appreciate your having voiced your opinion and having taken the time to respond to us. Kind thoughts.....V & R.
G'day cousinem.....We guess you are now hitting the haysack. It's 9.30am in Melbourne and in the U.K. it must be past bedtime at well after mid-night.
Thanks Cobber for the fair dinkum comment....Good on yer Sport.......Viv & Ron. (old South Wales.)
P.S. society needs to boomerang on this because we can't cotten the cackle.
Thanks Cobber for the fair dinkum comment....Good on yer Sport.......Viv & Ron. (old South Wales.)
P.S. society needs to boomerang on this because we can't cotten the cackle.
Society.....You'd be right to call me a Drongo for having failed to understand the reality of your message.
It's suddenly dawned upon me that Chris is of course Buenchico who always gives excellent replies. Unfortunately, I am still trying to establish whom is Nickmo.
Please accept apology for MSG (my stupid gaffe )..........Ron.
It's suddenly dawned upon me that Chris is of course Buenchico who always gives excellent replies. Unfortunately, I am still trying to establish whom is Nickmo.
Please accept apology for MSG (my stupid gaffe )..........Ron.
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