MSG: You Are Not my Friend

Sparing you the gory details - I just returned from my third trip to the "commode" since arriving at work 6 hours ago.  After silently but violently cursing the owner of the building for not replacing the two broken toilet seats, I wondered out-loud what in the hell caused me to make the return trip a second time. 

Was it my cereal this morning?  Not likely.

How about the coffee I just drank?  Possibly, but not normal.

How about my roast beef sandwich and grapes for lunch?  Don't think so. 

I then realized - it was the steak I had for dinner last night. 

Steak rarely if ever causes this sort of intestinal reaction within me, but this time it was different.  A few dudes came over to watch the Pens game and one of the dudes brought steaks.  He offered, and I will never turn down a steak, so I obliged. 

After eating, cursing the Pens, eating some more, tending to New Edition, playing with Little Winger, eating, cursing the Senators, and then cursing the Pens some more - we discussed what indeed the steaks were marinated in.  McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning, otherwise known as - MSG. 

Don't get me wrong, the list of ingredients for MSS reads:

COARSE SALT, SPICES (INCLUDING BLACK PEPPER, AND RED PEPPER), GARLIC, SUNFLOWER OIL, NATURAL FLAVOR, AND EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA.

No MSG listed anywhere.  Until you look a little deeper. 

What exactly is "natural flavor?"  The definition of natural flavor under the Code of Federal Regulation is:

“the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional” (21CFR101.22).

Basically, it is a chemical derived from a natural product used for flavoring. 

There are plenty of products to avoid that proudly display the fact that they contain MSG, but sadly there are many, many more where MSG is "hidden."  Some terms that frequently indicate hidden MSG additives are:

• Malt extract (super shitty for homebrewers and a big surprise to me)
• Bouillon
• Broth
• Stock
• Flavoring
• Natural Flavoring
• Natural Beef or Chicken Flavoring
• Seasoning

Source: naturdoc.com.

These names are carefully chosen so as not to display the MSG moniker - but it's there.

MSG has been used widely as a food additive for many years.  The FDA has received many reports referring to side effects caused by foods containing MSG.  Symptoms of MSG symptom complex include; headache (check), flushing, sweating (after Chinese buffet - yes indeed), facial pressure or tightness, numbness, rapid heartbeats, chest pain, nausea, weakness, and although it's not mentioned - frequent trips to the restroom.

MSG is indeed derived from natual substances, but it's done so chemically, and it too is a chemical.  Hell, even some poison is "natural," so don't always consider "natural" and "good for you" one in the same - because it's not true.

Your best bet?  Stay away from anything processed, flavor your foods naturally, not "naturally," if the box has ingredients you can't pronounce or if there is no expiration date stay away from it, and for God's sake stop eating effing garbage.

For more information visit:  http://msgtruth.org/

Take it easy.