Re:The Rotten Science Behind the MSG Scare
by icegreentea2 on Monday August 07, 2023 @08:06AM
(#37033304)
I don't think banning MSG makes sense or is feasible, but my understanding is that it's possible that adding MSG screws with the body's responses for seeking protein. The tongue tells the brain that food item X is probably full of protein, but when the body doesn't end up absorbing any, it fires off more pangs looking for protein. In that sense, MSG can enhance the effects that sugar, salt and fat create.
Reaearch has consistently failed to verify the existence of MSG sensitivity; while it may exist in some small number of cases, its mostly a misattributed cause.
Also, its not true that it would have no consumer harm; its a lower-sodium palatability enhancer than table salt, and removing it from the set of options would have consumer harms.
> In fact, it could benefit the obesity epidemic by removing that overeating urge msg creates.
That's an effect of sugar, salt, and fat (separately, but even more in the right combination); MSG is mostly irrelevant to it (except that banning MSG probably means more salt.)