Names
of ingredients that contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG)1
(Last
updated February, 2011)
Everyone
knows that some people get reactions after eating the food ingredient monosodium
glutamate --reactions that include migraine headaches, upset stomach, fuzzy
thinking, diarrhea, heart irregularities, asthma, and/or mood swings. What many
don’t know, is that more than 40 different ingredients contain the chemical in
monosodium glutamate (processed free glutamic acid) that causes these
reactions. The following list of ingredients that contain processed free
glutamic acid has been compiled over the last 20 years from consumers’ reports
of adverse reactions and information provided by manufacturers and food
technologists.
Names of
ingredients that always contain
processed free glutamic acid:
Glutamic acid (E
620)2, Glutamate (E 620)
Monosodium glutamate (E
621)
Monopotassium glutamate (E
622)
Calcium glutamate (E
623)
Monoammonium glutamate (E
624)
Magnesium glutamate (E
625)
Natrium
glutamate
Yeast
extract
Anything
“hydrolyzed”
Any “hydrolyzed
protein”
Calcium caseinate, Sodium
caseinate
Yeast food, Yeast nutrient
Autolyzed
yeast
Gelatin
Textured
protein
Soy protein, soy protein
concentrate
Soy protein
isolate
Whey protein, whey protein
concentrate
Whey protein
isolate
Anything “…protein”
Vetsin
Ajinomoto
|
Names of
ingredients that often contain or
produce processed free glutamic acid:
Carrageenan (E
407)
Bouillon and
broth
Stock
Any “flavors” or
“flavoring”
Maltodextrin
Citric acid, Citrate (E
330)
Anything
“ultra-pasteurized”
Barley malt
Pectin (E
440)
Protease
Anything “enzyme
modified”
Anything
containing
“enzymes”
Malt
extract
Soy sauce
Soy sauce
extract
Anything “protein
fortified”
Anything
“fermented”
Seasonings
(1) Glutamic acid
found in unadulterated protein does not cause adverse reactions.
To cause adverse reactions, the glutamic acid must have been processed/manufactured or come from protein that has been
fermented.
|
The following
are ingredients suspected of containing or creating sufficient processed free
glutamic acid to serve as MSG-reaction triggers in HIGHLY SENSITIVE
people:
Corn starch
Corn syrup
Modified food starch
Lipolyzed butter fat
Dextrose
Rice syrup
Brown rice syrup
Milk powder
Reduced fat milk (skim; 1%; 2%) most
things low fat or no
fat anything Enriched
anything Vitamin enriched
(2) E numbers are
use in Europe in place of food additive names.
|
The
following work synergistically with MSG to enhance flavor. If they are present
for flavoring, so is MSG.
Disodium 5’-guanylate (E 627)
Disodium 5’-inosinate (E-631) Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides (E
635)
|
Reminders
Low fat and no fat milk products
often contain milk solids that contain MSG and many dairy products contain
carrageenan, guar gum, and/or locust bean gum. Low fat and no fat versions of
ice cream and cheese may not be as obvious as yogurt, milk, cream, cream cheese,
cottage cheese, etc., but they are not exceptions.
Protein powders contain glutamic
acid, which, invariably, will be processed free glutamic acid (MSG). Individual
amino acids are not always listed on labels of protein
powders.
At present there is an FDA
requirement to include the protein source when listing hydrolyzed protein
products on labels of processed foods. Examples are hydrolyzed soy protein,
hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed pea protein, hydrolyzed whey protein,
hydrolyzed, corn protein. If a tomato, for example, were whole, it would be
identified as a tomato. Calling an ingredient tomato protein indicates that the
tomato has been hydrolyzed, at least in part, and that processed free glutamic
acid (MSG) is present.
Disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate are relatively expensive
food additives that work synergistically with inexpensive MSG. Their use
suggests that the product has MSG in it. They would probably not be used as food
additives if there were no MSG present.
MSG reactions have been reported
from soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners, and cosmetics, where MSG is hidden in
ingredients with names that include the words "hydrolyzed," "amino acids,"
and/or "protein." Most sun block creams
and insect repellents also contain MSG.
Drinks, candy, and chewing gum
are potential sources of hidden MSG and/or aspartame, neotame. and AminoSweet (the new
name for aspartame). Aspartic acid, found in neotame,
aspartame (NutraSweet), and AminoSweet, ordinarily
causes MSG type reactions in MSG sensitive people. (It would appear that calling
aspartame "AminoSweet" is industry's method of choice
for hiding aspartame.) We have not seen Neotame used
widely in the United States.
Aspartame will be found in some
medications, including children's medications. For questions about the
ingredients in pharmaceuticals, check with your pharmacist and/or read the
product inserts for the names of “other” or “inert”
ingredients.
Binders and fillers for
medications, nutrients, and supplements, both prescription and non-prescription,
enteral feeding materials, and some fluids
administered intravenously in hospitals, may contain MSG.
According to the manufacturer,
Varivax–Merck chicken pox vaccine (Varicella Virus Live), contains L-monosodium glutamate and
hydrolyzed gelatin, both of which contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG)
which causes brain lesions in young laboratory animals, and causes endocrine
disturbances like OBESITY and REPRODUCTIVE disorders later in life. It would
appear that most, if not all, live virus vaccines contain some ingredient(s)
that contains MSG.
Reactions to MSG are dose
related, i.e., some people react to even very small amounts. MSG-induced
reactions may occur immediately after ingestion or after as much as 48 hours.
The time lapse between ingestion and reaction is typically the same each time
for a particular individual who ingests an amount of MSG that exceeds his or her
individual tolerance level.
Remember: By food industry
definition, all MSG is "naturally occurring." "Natural" doesn't mean "safe."
"Natural" only means that the ingredient started out in nature, like arsenic and
hydrochloric acid.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Information
provided by the Truth in Labeling Campaign
Web: www.truthinlabeling.org Phone: 858-481-9333. e-mail:
adandjack@aol.com.
