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MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein?
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Accent Seasoning - Spike Seasoning QUESTION: I am writing from Australia and wondered if you could translate some ingredients for a recipe I got from the Oprah show. It is a recipe for 'Quincy Jones' thriller ribs ' and sounds delish! It calls for Spike and Accent seasoning which I have never heard of here or in the UK [my original home]. It also requires bell peppers which I assume are what we call capsicum. I really hope you can help me as I'm dying to try the recipe. I have only just found your site today and would like to congratulate you on it. It has firmly been marked in my favorites. Hope to hear from you soon - Sheila Harrison (10/3/01) I'm going to try a new recipe for Baby Back Ribs & it calls for "Spike
seasoning." Do you know where this can be purchased or do you know a good
substitute? Thanking you in advance. ANSWERS:
MSG is the sodium salt of the amino acid glutamic acid and a form of glutamate. It is sold as a fine white crystal substance, similar in appearance to salt or sugar. It does not have a distinct taste of its own, and how it adds flavor to other foods is not fully understood. Many scientists believe that MSG stimulates glutamate receptors in the tongue to augment meat-like flavors. Additional information on MSG from FDA and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) by U. S. Food and Drug Administration: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer in a variety of foods prepared at home, in restaurants, and by food processors. Its use has become controversial in the past 30 years because of reports of adverse reactions in people who've eaten foods that contain MSG. Research on the role of glutamate--a group of chemicals that includes MSG--in the nervous system also has raised questions about the chemical's safety. Studies have shown that the body uses
glutamate, an amino acid, as a nerve impulse transmitter in the
brain and that there are glutamate-responsive tissues in other
parts of the body, as well. Abnormal function of glutamate
receptors has been linked with certain neurological diseases,
such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's chorea. Injections
of glutamate in laboratory animals have resulted in damage to
nerve cells in the brain. Consumption of glutamate in food,
however, does not cause this effect. While people normally
consume dietary glutamate in large amounts and the body can make
and metabolize glutamate efficiently, the results of animal
studies conducted in the 1980s raised a significant question:
Can MSG and possibly some other glutamates harm the nervous
system?
Spike - From the Italian kitchen of late internationally acclaimed gourmet nutritionist, Gaylord Hauser, This is a flavor seasoning.
Spike's Seasoning Ingredients contains: Spike's seasoning claims to contain no MSG but does contain hydrolyzed vegetable protein. I couldn't find a recipe to make it at home. I doubt that anyone would try to make a copycat recipe for anything with so many ingredients. Spike's comes in either regular or salt free. Made by Modern Products, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53209, U.S.A. Spike's is a commercial product that is available at most supermarkets (in the spice section) and health food stores. QUESTION: I am a little confused. I always thought that MSG was a type of
nutritional yeast, and therefore always feared that Spike had MSG, but was
never really sure. You claim that hydrolized vegetable protein
IS MSG. To add to the confusion, I am not
personally allergic to MSG, but I do not think it is good for ones health,
and some people are very allergic to it, so I would like an informed answer
so that when I prepare food for others, I will avoid using Spike if it has
MSG. Is it possible that if it does contain MSG, that it is a healthy
version of it, or is there any such a thing? Personally, I love Spike Spice
mix better than any other, but it will curb my use of it if it contains MSG.
Still, I seek to know the truth on the matter. - Anna (1/07/07) ANSWER: I see what you are saying, and it does sound confusing! Check out the following article on MSG by Truth In Labeling: Truth In Labeling - HIDDEN SOURCES OF PROCESSED FREE GLUTAMIC ACID (MSG) FEEDBACK: Thank you so much for your help. After writing to you, I did find some information also. You may want to look at it too. It is at:
Truth In Labeling - Expert Opinion: Monosodium Glutamate
- The link address indicates that both your information
and mine come from the same source. The link I found is more detailed,
but also a little more difficult to figure out what they are trying to
say. Still, you may find it interesting to read how much effort is made
to sneak MSG into food and spices, despite the complaints of extremely
painful reactions to it. It is angering actually. It is not fair to
those who suffer the consequences, nor is it fair to people who, like
me, are not allergic themselves, care to not cause any harm to others
with the food they serve.
Thank you for sending the link that you found, because it boils the
info down to straight facts. I really like how concise and straight
forward it is. I will save the information. This is really helpful for
those who are rightly concerned about causing any discomfort to those
who may be allergic to MSG. It appears that Spike Spice does indeed
contain some, so I will be limiting (if not avoiding altogether) the use
of Spike. It is a shame, because it is a very flavorful seasoning. But
no taste is worth the ill effects that MSG has on those who get an
allergic reaction to it. Thanks again for your prompt and informative
reply.
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Accent
- A seasoning also called MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). It is commonly
used in Oriental cooking. It is not a favored seasoning or enhancer in the
United States as many people are allergic to it. It is an optional seasoning
and can very easily be left out of recipes. 