Why is there so much MSG in food?!?

[Deleted]

I am making Sauerbraten (German Pot Roast). When I went to buy a spice packet, the "American" brand contained MSG. I then went over to the German aisle and found a spice packet without it. Why is it that I can get international products WITHOUT it, but I can find very few American products without it. What is the purpose of it? It obviously isn't needed!

It just makes me so furious that so many products contain it. Also, I notice that a lot of products (Swiss Miss to name one) that now are using surcralose AND sugar in their products? WHY? I can no longer drink the regular Swiss Miss hot chocolate because of it.

Why has our culture become so ok with artificial crap that is known to be bad for us?

Is it just me irritated by this? I know I have PMS, but damn...

[Deleted]

I am a person that gets bad migraines and stomach cramps from MSG. So believe me, I read labels for it.

[Sum Dum Gai]

It's far cheaper to stuff food with artificial crap in order to please our taste buds than it is to make actual food taste good. American's love cheap, and businesses love making money. It's like the perfect storm.

[Deleted]

But it makes me MISERABLE.

Now I think I messed up and bought something with MSG in it anyway....apparently instead of using MSG they are using yeast extract, but apparently it is the same thing! This season packet has yeast extract in it...crap.

Why can't I just buy a simple spice packet?

[Deleted]

Specially when food companies aren't completely honest about what they put in the food.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Why can't I just buy a simple spice packet?

You can, kind of. You're just in the wrong aisle at the grocery store. Go to the aisle where they sell individual spices. Buy those. When you get home make your own little spice packets with the raw spices and some little ziploc bags. For some reason food companies are incapable of doing the same on a mass scale and selling them to consumers. They insist on adding artificial crap in there. Probably goes back to that cheaper and loving to make money thing.

In reality they could sell spice packets without the artificial crap for more money than they charge for the ones with the artificial crap, so they'd probably make just as much, but very few companies think this way. They're all stuck in this have to make the cheapest product possible mentality.

[Deleted]

I didn't want to go buy all the different spices because I am moving in 2 months. I read the label. I just didn't know that yeast extract was MSG.

Normally I don't buy spice packets. I do buy the spices, I just didn't want to do it with only 2 months to go. I hate throwing out stuff.

[Deleted]

I thought yeast was yeast...

effers!

[Jaguar]

I've been reading labels and watching food additives for a while. I have asthma and a number of food additives cause it to flare up. I also read the labels for shampoos and shower soaps.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Why would you have to throw out dried spices when you move? Those things last practically forever.

[wvugurl26]

They don't last forever and I assume she'd rather not deal with the hassle of packing up spices to move them halfway around the world.

[Sum Dum Gai]

They don't last forever

I meant for food items. Compared to most other food stuff they last a long time.

[Deleted]

Because the last time the military moved my spices and food items, they just threw them in a damn box and when we arrived in Kansas, I had a box filled with broken spices, oatmeal, flour, etc. Yes we took pictures of the box and complained.

[Opti]

Apr 9, 2012 17:17:54 GMT -5 @angel33 said:

I didn't want to go buy all the different spices because I am moving in 2 months. I read the label. I just didn't know that yeast extract was MSG.

Normally I don't buy spice packets. I do buy the spices, I just didn't want to do it with only 2 months to go. I hate throwing out stuff.

There's a list of things that can be MSG and yes yeast extract is one of them. I think hydrolyzed protein might be another. Perhaps you can find a list on the internet and keep it on hand for the other names to watch for.

[Deleted]

MSG and MSG Derivatives


MSG or Monosodium Glutamate is an excitotoxin, which is a toxic chemical found in many substances on our grocery store shelves and in many restaurant foods. It is used as a preservative and to enhance flavor. This chemical has the ability to damage the hypothalamus which is located in the brain, and to completely alter the body's chemistry causing great damage to our health and an acceleration of body fat. The following is a partial list of the many disguised names for MSG:

Disguised Names for MSG

Monsodium Glutamate Glutamic Acid
Gelatin Calcium Caseinate
Monopotassium Glutamate Textured Protein
Autolyzed Yeast Yeast Extract
Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten Hydrolyzed Protein
Glutamate Sodium Caseinate
Yeast Nutrient Yeast Food
Natrium Glutamate

Other Sources of MSG or Free Glutamates (these often contain MSG or create MSG during processing)

Maltodextrin Citric Acid
Malt Flavoring Soy Protein Isolate
Bouillon and Broth Natural Beef Flavoring
Soy Protein Soy Sauce Extract
Natural Chicken Flavoring Stock
Whey Protein Concentrate Ultra-Pasteurized
Soy Protein Concentrate Protease
All Modified Enzymes Anything Fermented
Whey Protein Isolate Flavors and Flavorings
Malt Extract Natural Pork Flavoring
Soy Sauce Whey Protein
Carrageenan Barley Malt
Pectin Seasonings (the word)
Natural Flavors

Be very careful of fractionated proteins and vegetables, these are
normally MSG derivatives (ex., Pea Protein or Corn Protein).

[Deleted]

I suffered for many years with migraines before I discovered MSG was the culprit. There are updated lists of names MSG hide behind. Your local health store can steer you in the right direction to help you find alternatives to MSG and also provide updates lists MSG hide behind too..

[Deleted]

And that list is why I don't normally buy processed crap. I really thought this packet was safe since I THOUGHT I knew what everything was. But...I didn't know yeast extract wasn't just YEAST!

[Deleted]

The stuff is poison to me. That and aspartame.

MSG is poison! Most times, if one suffers from MSG, they also suffer from artificial sweeteners too..

[chiver78]

Apr 9, 2012 18:09:32 GMT -5 @angel33 said:

Because the last time the military moved my spices and food items, they just threw them in a damn box and when we arrived in Kansas, I had a box filled with broken spices, oatmeal, flour, etc. Yes we took pictures of the box and complained.

I can appreciate not wanting to buy more spices just before you move. do you think it would be worth the trouble to split bottles of spices with a military wife that isn't going anywhere right now? I mean, you could portion out the packets for the next few weeks into what you'd need for meals, and she'd keep the rest. or you could just give the remainder of the bottles to her a couple days before you leave.

[Deleted]

TT artificial sweeteners kick my ass too. I think they actually give me a worse migraine than MSG...if that is possible.

[Deleted]

There is a natural product that will help ward off MSG affects called MSM powder. I no longer suffer with migraines because of this wonderfully safe product..

[Deleted]

MSM is non-allergenic, non-pyretic, and has no interfering or undesirable pharmacological effects. You cannot overdose with MSM - the body will use what it needs and flush out the rest without harm. Because it is also a free radical and foreign protein scavenger, MSM cleans the blood stream, so allergies to foods or pollens can be eliminated, sometimes in just a few days.

[Deleted]

I have never heard of that powder. I will have to look into it. I am usually really good about asking restaurants about MSG, but I wonder if even they know what all the names MSG hides behind. I know I have been told that something doesn't contain MSG and still got a migraine after eating it.

Do you take the powder daily?

[chiver78]

Apr 9, 2012 18:33:46 GMT -5 @heart2heart said:

MSM is non-allergenic, non-pyretic, and has no interfering or undesirable pharmacological effects. You cannot overdose with MSM - the body will use what it needs and flush out the rest without harm. Because it is also a free radical and foreign protein scavenger, MSM cleans the blood stream, so allergies to foods or pollens can be eliminated, sometimes in just a few days.

wow!! I may have to look into this. what allergies do you know of that have been negated by this stuff?

[Deleted]

Do you take the powder daily?

Yes, I do. A very small amount before going to bed in a glass of water.. It is literally tasteless and WORKS!

[Deleted]

I also enhance the effect of MSM with magnesum powder and black cherry juice.. They are my daily staples.. Just a little of each every day.

[Deleted]

There is no proof that MSG is even bad for people.

[Deleted]

Me --> Hives, eye infections. Acne and rashy skin (daughter).. Alleviate sinus conditions tremendously in my son who suffers with sinus headaches..

[Deleted]

Apr 9, 2012 18:43:25 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

Archie. It's pretty bad. A neurologist would tell you this. I did not get told this by some crazy earth mother type. A university trained neurologist who is highly-regarded in the medical community warned me about this exact thing. It will send you to the floor if you have migraines.

But very few people have migraines.

[Deleted]

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