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The Secret Names for MSG

The Secret Names of MSG

Excerpted from the book Freedom from Fibromyalgia: 7 Steps to Complete Recovery, ©2014 by Leah E. McCullough, All Rights Reserved

I used “secret names” in the title of this chapter because on food labels, the words monosodium glutamate (MSG) do not always appear even though it is an ingredient. As I’ve been researching natural health I’ve been shocked to find that not all ingredients listed on food labels are all the ingredients in the food—some don’t have to be listed at all and some can be listed under such terms as “spices” to disguise what they really are.

You see, it’s required by the FDA that food manufacturers list the ingredient monosodium glutamate on food labels, but they do not have to label ingredients that contain free glutamic acid, even though it’s the main component of MSG. There are over forty labeled ingredients that contain glutamic acid,26 but you’d never know it just from their names alone. Further, in some foods glutamic acid is formed during processing and, again, food labels give you no way of knowing for sure.27

If you see any of the below-mentioned terms on a food label, I would avoid that food because, unless it is labeled as organic, more than likely it contains MSG. Also, the vast majority of restaurant food has MSG in it. Not only is it a neurotoxin but it can cause you to gain weight!

Here is a list of ingredients that ALWAYS contain MSG:28

Autolyzed yeast Calcium caseinate
Glutamate Glutamic acid
Monopotassium glutamate Monosodium glutamate
Textured protein Yeast extract
Yeast nutrient Sodium caseinate
Gelatin Yeast food
Hydrolyzed protein

These ingredients OFTEN contain MSG or create MSG  during processing:29

Flavors and flavorings Seasonings Natural flavors and flavorings
Natural chicken flavoring Soy sauce Soy protein isolate
Stock Broth Malt extract
Anything enzymemodified Carrageenan Maltodextrin
Protease Corn starch Citric acid
Natural pork flavoring Anything ultrapasteurized Soy protein
Malt flavoring Pectin Powdered milk
Natural beef flavoring Bouillon Barley malt
Enzymes Anything proteinfortified

Note: Natural, homemade stock and broth may contain some trace amounts of glutamic acid or glutamates. Gelatin, such as Bernard Jensen’s 100% Bovine Gelatin, and traditionally fermented soy sauce do contain trace amounts of naturally occurring glutamates. Unless you are extremely sensitive, the health benefits of these foods (with the exception of the traditionally fermented soy sauce) far outweigh the minute amounts of glutamates.

End notes:

26 “MSG: Is This Silent Killer Lurking in Your Cabinets?” Joseph Mercola, last modified April 21, 2009, accessed March 19, 2014, http://articles.mercola.com/ sites/articles/archive/2009/04/21/msg-is-this-silent-killer-lurking-in-your-kitchencabinets.aspx.

27 Ibid.

28 Ibid.

29 Ibid.