THE MYTH OF MSG

Reading the words monosodium glutamate (MSG) on an ingredients list often fills people with fear. But the umami-packed flavour enhancer got its bad reputation in the 1960s when older research, combined with racial biases, made many people in the west view MSG as an unhealthy, or even toxic, ingredient. But MSG is also present naturally in very healthy foods like tomatoes, mushrooms and broccoli, and a recent review has shown that those older studies are based on extremely high doses.4 At the amount found in foods, whether naturally or added, it’s unlikely to cause any negative effects.