Reading about the Umami Seasoning Day celebration in Lagos, Nigeria, we came across an article titled The Truth About AJI-NO-MOTO, which we felt needed clarification. The update we offer here is based on the motto of The Truth in Labeling Campaign: \u201cThe truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about MSG.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note: our revisions are in red type and the patently false statements have been crossed out.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Truth About AJI-NO-MOTO\u00ae — clarified by the Truth in Labeling Campaign<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 1909 AJI-NO-MOTO\u00ae Umami Seasoning has been used to bring out the best taste in food all over the world. The extensive body of research produced by Ajinomoto<\/span> <\/strong>which exists about this widely used ingredient has been reviewed by You can find out more about this from <\/strong> Feel safe enjoying tastes and eating<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n AJI-NO-MOTO\u00ae (MSG) has been History of scientific studies for MSG around the world<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the early 1950s, as processed foods increased in many countries all over the world, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations established a new committee, the Joint FAO\/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), to evaluate the safety of food additives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n JECFA* evaluated the safety of glutamate in 1970, 1973 and 1987, all overseen by members of the glutamate industry. <\/span><\/strong>After three safety evaluations, JECFA placed MSG in the safest category, \u201cAcceptable Daily Intake (ADI) not specified\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1991, the European Commission\u2019s Scientific Committee for Food (SCF), after considering studies brought to it by Ajinomoto\u2019s agents,<\/span><\/strong> also affirmed MSG\u2019s safety. Having reviewed the most advanced and up-to-date research created by Ajinomoto<\/span><\/strong> on glutamate, the SCF published a report in 1991 which designated an \u2018ADI not specified\u2019 for MSG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1995, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), with a review panel staffed by persons with conflicts of interest,<\/span><\/strong> reaffirmed the safety of MSG for the general population. In its review, commissioned by the FDA, FASEB\u2019s panel of reviewers with serious conflicts of interest,<\/span><\/strong> independent<\/s> Ajinomoto\u2019s<\/strong> <\/span>scientists and regulatory authorities (to whom Ajinomoto provided all materials for review) <\/span><\/strong>throughout the world \u2013 all have found <\/s>of whom claim that<\/span><\/strong> MSG to be safe<\/s> is harmless.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nour parent site<\/s> the Truth in Labeling Campaign <\/span><\/strong>here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nsafely <\/s>used as a food ingredient since 1909. However, due to the common misconceptions,<\/s> growing numbers of reports of adverse reactions caused by MSG<\/span><\/strong>, it is now claimed to be<\/span><\/strong> one of the most thoroughly tested of all food ingredients, with hundreds of scientific studies financed by Ajinomoto<\/span><\/strong> confirming <\/s>proclaiming<\/span><\/strong> its safe and effective use. MSG\u2019s safety has been repeatedly affirmed by regulators and scientific agencies around the world who were given selected studies done by Ajinomoto\u2019s agents to use in drawing their conclusions that MSG is harmless.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nfound<\/s> looked for <\/span><\/strong>no evidence linking MSG to any serious or long-term health effects, which led<\/s> the FDA used<\/span><\/strong> to again reaffirm that MSG is a safe food ingredient at normally consumed levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have questions or comments, we\u2019d love to hear from you. If you have hints for others on how to avoid exposure to MfG, send them along, too, and we\u2019ll put them up on <\/em>Facebook<\/em><\/a>. Or you can reach us at questionsaboutmsg@gmail.com and follow us on <\/em>Twitter @truthlabeling<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n