How to Identify MSG in Your Food: A Guide for Consumers

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), also known as monium glutaminate, is a common food additive that many consumers want to avoid. With its widespread use in processed foods, recognizing MSG in your diet can be challenging. This article provides a detailed guide to help you identify MSG in your food through label reading, taste testing, pH test strips, and laboratory testing.

Understanding MSG and Its Forms

MSG and its manufactured free glutamate (MfG) forms are derived from various ingredients. Always-containing ingredients include:

Glutamic acid (E 620) Monosodium glutamate (E 621) Monopotassium glutamate (E 622) Ca Glutamate (E 623) Monammonium glutamate (E 624) Magnesium glutamate (E 625) Anything labeled “Hydrolyzed” or “Hydrolyzed protein” Sodium caseinate Yeast extract, torula yeast, yeast food, yeast nutrient, nutritional yeast Autolyzed yeast, brewers yeast Gelatin, textured protein, whey protein, whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, soy protein, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate Anything labeled “Protein” or “Protein-fortified”

Glutamic acid in unadulterated protein does not typically cause adverse reactions. Processed or manufactured release of glutamic acid from protein or fermentation of protein can trigger reactions in highly sensitive individuals.

Common Ingredients That Often Contain or Produce MfG

Carrageenan (E 407) Bouillon and broth Stock Any flavors or flavoring Natural flavors Maltodextrin Oligodextrin Citric acid (E 330) Anything labeled “Ultra-pasteurized” Barley meal Malted barley Pectin (E 440) Malt extract Seasonings Soy milk

Ingredients That May Create Sufficient MfG in Highly Sensitive Individuals

Corn starch Corn syrup Modified food starch Lipolyzed butter fat Dextrose Rice syrup Brown rice syrup Milk powder Reduced fat milk (1, 2%) Most things labeled “Low fat” or “No fat” Anything labeled “Enriched” or “Vitamin-enriched” Anything labeled “Pasteurized” Anthocyanin (a naturally occurring pigment) Vinegar Balsamic vinegar

Taste Test and Umami Flavor

If you suspect a food contains MSG, you might notice a distinct umami flavor. Foods high in umami, such as soy sauce and certain processed snacks, often contain MSG. However, this method is subjective and not always reliable.

Using pH Test Strips

While pH test strips are not specific to MSG, they can be used to check the acidity of a solution. MSG can slightly alter the pH, but this method is not definitive for MSG detection. pH strips are a simple, at-home test that can help you determine if a food is acidic, which might indicate the presence of MSG.

Label Reading: The Most Effective Approach

Reading labels is the easiest and most reliable way to identify MSG in your food. Look for the E numbers or common names listed above. While pH test strips can provide some information, they are not a substitute for accurate labeling.

Laboratory Testing

For a more accurate identification, sending a food sample to a laboratory for analysis is the best option. Specific chemical analysis methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), can be used to detect MSG.

Overall, while there is no straightforward at-home test for MSG, combining label reading with other methods like taste testing and pH testing can help you make informed choices about your diet.