enough research forced the FDA to change the classification. Aside from being used in some Chinese food, MSG is added to many processed foods, including hot dogs and potato chips.
The FDA does require companies that add MSG to their foods to include the additive on the list of ingredients on their packaging. This is because some people identify themselves as sensitive to MSG.
However, some ingredients naturally contain MSG, and food manufacturers may choose to use these ingredients to avoid disclosing the name “MSG” on the ingredient list.
What could happen to you?
Yes, most people can eat foods that contain MSG without experiencing any problems. However, a small percentage of people have short-term, adverse reactions to this food additive. Due to this controversy, many restaurants advertise that they don’t add MSG to their foods.
People who have eaten food containing MSG may experience the following symptoms within two hours of consuming and can last a few hours to a couple of days:
Common symptoms include:
- Headache
- Sweating
- Skin Flushing
- Numbness or burning in the mouth
- Numbness or burning in the throat
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Less commonly, people can experience severe, life-threatening symptoms like