A “must-read” in today’s Smithsonian magazine “Food & Think” blog — “It’s the Umami, Stupid. Why the Truth About MSG is So Easy to Swallow,” by Natasha Geiling (a blogger for this highly reputable magazine).
This is an in-depth and insightful article about the discovery of umami (our fifth taste), the desire for savory foods, and of course the history of the well-known yet inexplicably controversial food seasoning, monosodium glutamate (aka MSG). The author also interviews experts to explain what scientific research has discovered about alleged MSG side effects.
A few excerpts:
“From the FDA to the United Nations to various governments (Australia, Britain and Japan) the public bodies that have investigated MSG have deemed it a safe food additive.
While the general scientific consensus seems to be that only in large doses and on an empty stomach can MSG temporarily affect a small subset of the population, MSG’s reputation is still maligned in the public eye.
…So does MSG deserve its bad rap? For the small section of the population that shows sensitivity to it, probably. But for the rest of America, maybe it’s time to reconsider exactly what we’re so afraid of when it comes to MSG.”
Read the full article here: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/its-the-umami-stupid-why-the-truth-about-msg-is-so-easy-to-swallow-180947626/
