Monosodium Glutamate, monosodium glutamate, MSG, glutamate - separating MSG-fact from MSG-fiction and industry propaganda

This Web site is dedicated to people with problems that once defied medical diagnosis -- people who discovered that elimination of MSG from their diets let them be well.

Reasons for concern Refusal by the FDA to require identification of  neurotoxic, endocrine disrupting, processed free glutamic acid (MSG) present in processed foods MedImmune’s H1N1 vaccine Your holiday turkey and fixings "Organic" products that contain MSG Cancer causing propanols in acid hydrolyzed protein products. Artificial flavors that may contain Senomyx Physicians who recommend "allergy" testing for identification of sensitivity to MSG Food advertised as "No MSG", No added MSG", or "No MSG added" Physicians who perform lobotomies on children without first ascertaining that their seizures are not being caused by sensitivity to MSG Wikipedia The presence of intentionally added neurotoxic, endocrine disrupting, food additives in processed food The cost of health care for those people reacting to intentionally added neurotoxic, endocrine disrupting, food additives in processed food Growing acceptance of "umami" as the fifth taste sensation

 

Food for thought Is your senator being paid to prevent the identification of neurotoxic amino acids in processed food? Is your congressperson being paid to ignore the use of cancer causing acid hydrolyzed protein products in processed food? Why are a number of giant soup producers competing with claims of "no MSG" in products that contain MSG? If monosodium glutamate has a taste of its own (as Ajinomoto Co., Inc. claims), why aren't MSG-sensitive people able to taste it? New government studies indicate that about 1 in 100 children have autism disorders. That's up from 1 in 150. And our FDA  refuses to take neurotoxic glutamic acid and neurotoxic aspartic acid out of formula fed to infants, out of the food their nursing mothers eat and pass on to them, and out of vaccines where the neurotoxic glutamic acid is mainlined to children.

 

TLC's solution  (well, partial solution)  to cutting the cost of health care, comes from readers.

                                    (courtesy of the author) 

Is MSG good for you?  Bad for you?  Watch this tape.  It was done by Vincent Bellonzi. Click here.

Dear Visitor,
If you've visited us before, you may realize that we are in the process of making improvements to this web page -- updating information, and making it easier to find what you are looking for. We know that some of our external links are not working correctly, and there will be other inconveniences.  Please help us by reporting any links that are not working and/or questions to which you have not found answers.  Sorry this is taking so long, but we are also busy asking the White House to recognize that MSG is a toxic endocrine disruptor.

Truth in Labeling Campaign: adandjack@aol.com

 
 

FOLLOWING IS YOUR TABLE (a real table) OF CONTENTS 
(Click on the links.  The underlines are the links.) 

SECTION	DETAILS	MORE DETAILS	MORE DETAILS
AT RISK from exposure to MSG	DAMAGE MSG-induced adverse reactions: a list of reactions that might be MSG-induced adverse reactions MSG-induced brain damage MSG-induced endocrine disorders MSG's link to neurodegenerative disease. How many people are sensitive to MSG?	ABOUT MSG What is MSG? Where is MSG hidden? Names of  ingredient names used to hide MSG in food There is MSG in some agricultural products E-numbers for MSG-containing ingredients	HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN MSG REACTION Recognizing and/or diagnosing MSG adverse reactions Pinpointing MSG as a reaction trigger
RIP TIDES AND LAND MINES	Health food stores Pet food: letter #1 Pet food: letter #2 "Natural", "naturally occurring"	Dietary supplements  Nutritional supplements	Infant formula Things labeled "organic"
GLUTAMIC ACID FOUND IN PROTEIN vs. MANUFACTURED FREE GLUTAMIC ACID (MSG)	What is the difference between the glutamic acid found in protein and the potentially harmful manufactured glutamic acid that we refer to as MSG? How is MSG manufactured?	MSG causes brain damage and neuroendocrine disorders like obesity.  Glutamic acid bound up in protein does not.	MSG causes adverse reactions like asthma, migraine headaches, heart irregularities, and seizures. Glutamic acid bound up in protein does not.
DATA tell us that use of MSG places consumers at risk	Evidence that MSG causes retinal degeneration, kills brain cells -- leading to behavior disorders, learning disabilities, reproductive disorders,  obesity, and more. Look at the data.	Evidence that MSG causes  reactions like irritable bowel, heart irregularities, asthma, and migraine headache.  Look at the data.   Evidence that the young are at the greatest risk from ingestion of MSG.  Read it.  It's true.	How many MSG-sensitive people might there be?  Look at the epidemiological studies.  Maybe 50% today?   Evidence that industry-sponsored studies used to substantiate the safety of MSG are so badly flawed that they are worthless.  See for yourself.
REPORTS OF ADVERSE REACTIONS from consumers tell us that use of MSG places consumers at risk	Consumer Reports Of Adverse Reactions  (under construction)
HISTORY	History of use of MSG in food -- FDA regulated; and in pesticide products (fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and plant growth enhancers that are sprayed on food crops -- EPA regulated	Regulatory history	History of pesticide use in California
It is important to industry (and their friends at the FDA)  that MSG not be identified on food and drug labels.  Want to know why?               Read more  >>>		Who are the people that get the job done so effectively? This is how the "MSG is safe" game is played The US government plays an active role in keeping MSG in food, drugs, dietary supplements, children's' medications, cosmetics, fertilizers, fungicides, plant growth enhancers -- and more -- hidden
INDUSTRY SECRETS ? HOW THEY STAY THAT WAY	The FDA says it's illegal to claim no MSG in a product if it contains any free glutamic acid (1)(2) MSG kills brain cells and causes a variety of adverse reactions.  It doesn't matter if you call it "umami" or not. The International Food Information Council (IFIC) has a name that doesn't give away the fact that they might be promoting questionable substances such as caffeine, BST, sugars, Colors, MSG, and aspartame.  For over a decade, they have worked actively for the glutamate industry. Reactions to MSG are not  allergic reactions.  They can not be diagnosed through use of "allergy" tests.  The glutamic acid in the human body is 100% L-glutamic acid -- (no unwanted by-products; no impurities). Food grade MSG may be approximately 98.7% L-glutamic acid -- (1.3% impurities). Pharmaceutical grade L-glutamic acid is approximately 99% or more L-glutamic acid -- (1% or less impurities). Some other things the "glutes" don't want you to know	These are the "glutes" basic lies These are the Web pages on which you'll find their lies.  These are some of the tricks the "glutes" use to set up (fix) their research to guarantee it will come out as they want it to.  The Tarasoff and Kelly study is a really good example.  These are some of the tricks  used to get free advertising dressed up as news.	Here's how they hide MSG These are the "glutes," and others who speaks out on their behalf? A special role is played by the FDA.     You can read all about the "glutes" standard operating procedure -- published in Accountability in Research, a peer reviewed journal
DATA THE GLUTES DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE		References to peer reviewed scientific articles and discussion of industry's badly flawed studies	Timely papers written by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
NEWS and VIEWS	On November 8, 2008 Jack Samuels presented a paper at the The Weston A. Price Foundation Annual Conference.  His presentation and handouts can be accessed below.  Presentation --The Basics --The Science that Says that MSG Places Humans at Risk --Hidden Sources of Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG): (ingredients that serve as common MSG-reaction triggers)  --Hidden Sources of Processed Free Glutamic Acid: Addendum --Collected Reports of Adverse Reactions Caused by MSG --References (books, DVD/VCR, web pages, --Internet searching **********  Those who eat more monosodium glutamate weigh more.  That's what it says in the journal Obesity. The study is available online at: http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v16/n8/full/oby2008274a.html The Truth in Labeling Campaign had something to add to the information in that article.  But after two months of indecision, the journal Obesity refused to publish our letter.  You can read our letter here if you like.  **********  Researchers from Scripps Clinic, La Jolla California -- which has a history of doing research funded by the MSG industry --  have published a review pointing to the safety of monosodium glutamate.  They looked at four (4) conditions you won't find listed  in a 1997 FDA report of complaints of adverse reactions to MSG, and concluded that there weren't many reports of adverse reactions to MSG. They also cited three (3) double blind studies in which researchers found adverse reactions to monosodium glutamate, but said that didn't show that people were sensitive to monosodium glutamate because people also  reacted to aspartame-laced placebos.  And that, good readers, is what glutamate industry propaganda about the safety of MSG is built on.	Obesity  The obesity epidemic: should we believe what we read and hear?   If MSG wasn’t harmful, it wouldn’t be hidden.  If the FDA was doing its job, MSG wouldn’t be hidden either.   In mid March, 2008, we welcomed Forbes to the ranks of the American media promoting the use of neurotoxic and endocrine disrupting MSG in processed food.  On March 24, the glutes found a home for yet another writer, Stevenson Swanson, who seems to have taken some industry  advertising dressed up as news, and passed it on to the glutamate-industry friendly Chicago Tribune.	Thoughts from the editor: For Better or Worse;encore CSPI. no friend of the MSG-sensitive  Beware false advertising and dishonest labeling A 2007 petition filed with the FDA asking that the GRAS status of the food ingredient monosodium glutamate be rescinded.  GLAUCOMA in the news  RETINAL (macular) DEGENERATION in the news  Glutamate Blockers?  Have you noticed that pharmaceutical companies are spending millions of dollars developing glutamate blockers with which to fight neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer's disease, while the glutes are pouring (often hidden) processed glutamate (MSG) into our food?
SURVIVING MSG SENSITIVITY	Dealing with MSG sensitivity. Letters from people who have been helped by this Web site. ---Consumers tell us....about vertigo and other things they've overcome Tapes on MSG to purchase. Ideas for those having trouble avoiding MSG.	To get the truth from manufacturers about the MSG in their products, you have to  understand their deceptive tactics.	Government resources on the Internet Other Web sites with information about MSG and aspartame
CONSUMER ADVOCACY	Let your voice be heard.  Right now your hours are more valuable than your dollars.  Print out copies of the TLC brochure for family and, friends.  (Print two sided, fold, make lots of copies, and hand them out.)		Consumers have the right to know what is in their food.
FUN THINGS TO DO	Ask President Obama, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, your two US Senators and your Congressperson to take manufactured excitotoxic glutamic acid (known to you as MSG) out of infant formula and vaccines.  (No legislation needed.  It won't cost taxpayers a penny.  And it will save parents and government millions of dollars in health care costs.)	If you missed the 60 Minutes segment on MSG, and want to see it now, click here.  It's just as true/timely today as it was in 1991 (when it first aired). And Monsanto's Michael Taylor is once again at the FDA.	A GAME:  "Find the MSG"  (Please send us labels of food you would like exposed, and tell where you purchased it.)
SUPPORT THE TRUTH IN LABELING CAMPAIGN	About the Truth in Labeling Campaign	We thank all of you who share your insights and concerns with us.	Contact us

 

Correction!

 

Which one consumed the MSG?

 
 

We are proud that we have been able to provide information to people whose problems had defied medical diagnosis; people who just "didn't feel well;" people who knew they suffered adverse reactions when they ate MSG--and wanted to avoid it; and people who simply wanted to avoid this neurotoxic, endocrine disrupting, substance.  If you have questions that have not been answered here, please feel free to e-mail or call.

 
 

KNOW THIS: The ingredient that causes MSG reactions in MSG-sensitive people is manufactured/processed free glutamic acid.(1)  Manufactured/processed free glutamic acid is found in processed foods (9) -- but it is not found in unprocessed or unadulterated meat, fish, or vegetables (including soybeans, mushrooms, and tomatoes.).(3)  Only meat, fish, or vegetables that have been subjected to some sort of manufacturing or fermenting process will cause MSG reactions in MSG-sensitive people who ingest amounts that exceed their tolerances for MSG.(1) Dairy products, also, may cause MSG reactions in MSG-sensitive people because some dairy products are ultra-pasteurized, some are fermented, and many contain food additives such as carrageenan that are problematic for MSG-sensitive people.(1) All manufactured/processed free glutamic acid contains contaminants (D-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and others) (12,13), while the glutamic acid found in intact/unadulterated protein contains no contaminants.(3)  Some manufactured/processed free glutamic acid contains carcinogenic mono and dichloro propanols.(12) KNOW THIS:  With one exception, aspartame and processed free glutamic acid (MSG) cause identical adverse reactions in people who are sensitive to them.(2) In addition, the free glutamic acid found in MSG and the free aspartic acid found in aspartame both have been shown to kill brain cells and cause subsequent endocrine disorders in laboratory animals.(4)  (We don't do such experiments on humans.) KNOW THIS:  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appears to be more interested in protecting the profits of big business than in safeguarding the health of consumers. DO THIS: When a manufacturer tells you there is no processed free glutamic acid in a product that made you ill, ask the manufacturer to back up his claim by providing you with a "free amino acid" assay.  If there is any free glutamic acid found, you can assume that the product contains MSG.  When a manufacturer tells you that any MSG in his product couldn't possibly harm you because it is "naturally occurring," inform the manufacturer that both arsenic and hydrochloric acid are "naturally occurring," too. REMEMBER THIS: If MSG wasn't harmful, it wouldn't be hidden. REFERENCES

adandjack@aol.com   858-481-9333   http://www.truthinlabeling.org

This page was last updated on January 2, 2010