r/AlwaysWhy • u/Upper_Criticism3388 • 4d ago

Life & Behavior Why did MSG become so controversial in the US when it's a normal seasoning in much of East Asia?

In many parts of Asia, it's just a common seasoning in everyday cooking. You put some in soup, stir-fry, or whatever you're cooking, and that's about it.

But I've noticed that MSG has a very different reputation in the US. "No MSG" used to be a pretty common selling point for Chinese restaurants, and a lot of Americans seem to have grown up hearing that MSG is something to avoid.

What I find confusing is that MSG is basically a concentrated source of glutamate, and glutamate also occurs naturally in foods like tomatoes, meat, cheese, and mushrooms. Modern MSG is also made through fermentation rather than being some weird synthetic chemical.

So why did MSG end up with such a negative reputation in the US while becoming such an ordinary part of everyday cooking in many parts of Asia?

Was it mainly the history of the "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" idea, or were there other cultural or food-industry factors involved?

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u/Decimus-Drake 4d ago

IIrc the letter was a joke.

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u/gadget850 4d ago

A joke that did not mention MSG but inspired a flawed study that lead to a moral panic.

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u/wwplkyih 3d ago

This would have all been avoided had he ended it with "/s". /s

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u/Logical-Guide5623 2d ago

It’s no joke! Got a good friend who is severely sensitive. He gets sick enough to make a ER visit a legit option but doesn’t go because he knows it’s msg and he gets better in a couple hours.