What Is MSG in Food?

Question: What Is MSG in Food?

MSG in food has become a controversial issue of the last few years, but what exactly is MSG?

Answer: MSG is Monosodium Glutamate and is a food additive used to enhance flavour in any number of foods.

Where Can MSG be Found?

Anywhere and everywhere. It is particularly prevalent in processed and frozen foods. Chinese restaurants also have a bad reputation, rightly or wrongly, for adding MSG to enhance the flavour of their dishes.

Is MSG Dangerous?

This is a controversial subject. It's certain that some people are more sensitive to the use of MSG and it has been linked with side affects from headaches to alzheimers. MSG is known as the so called fifth flavour, also known as Unami, but the chemical effects of MSG have yet to be fully researched and explored.

Is MSG Popular in Hong Kong?

Yes, although controversy over MSG has resulted in the rise of a lot of 'MSG free' restaurants, menus and dishes in Hong Kong, the majority of the city's restaurants will still include MSG in their dishes.