Monosodium Glutamate: The Distinct Flavor

The food industry is a business of mass production and consumption. Plants and animals that are grown in bulk in farmlands nationwide are processed later at large factories. It is no surprise that some of the most popular snack foods have a lengthy list of ingredients. The various chemicals found in food serve to enhance the color, texture, flavor, and shelf life. There are hundreds of food additives such as ascorbic acid, aspartame, and xanthan gum and a common food additive which is known as monosodium glutamate (MSG). Yet, most people do not fully understand what is MSG and how it can be dangerous to a person’s health. It is an ingredient often targeted as the cause of “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” which leaves people with nausea, fatigue, and chest pains. This leads one to investigate the mystery of what is MSG, and what it does to the human body?