BETA
Chapter 1
The discovery of the fifth taste
Chapter 2
The biology of craveability
Chapter 3
Umami across global cuisines
Chapter 4
The MSG controversy and food science
YOUR GOAL
Master of The science of umami
Ch 4 · The MSG controversy and food science
renato MSG and Umami
Umami, umami! The fifth taste, so true. It's naturally in your food, making it delicious for you!
renato Food scientists combine MSG with specific flavor enhancers to make processed snacks virtually impossible to stop eating.
renato Decades of rigorous scientific studies have proven that MSG is completely safe and chemically identical to natural glutamates.
Fun Fact
Sodium swap: Monosodium glutamate contains about twelve percent sodium by weight, which is less than a third of the forty percent sodium found in normal table salt.
Glossary
monosodium glutamate (noun)
A sodium salt of glutamic acid used as a flavor enhancer. In 1968, a letter to a medical journal sparked widespread, unfounded fears regarding the additive's safety.
A sodium salt of glutamic acid used as a flavor enhancer. In 1968, a letter to a medical journal sparked widespread, unfounded fears regarding the additive's safety.
Quiz
In what year did a letter to a medical journal spark the "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" myth?
Quiz
How does the glutamate in MSG compare chemically to the glutamate found naturally in tomatoes?
Quiz
By what percentage can MSG reduce the sodium content of a dish while keeping it delicious?
Quiz
What combination of ingredients do snack manufacturers use to create the irresistible flavor of chips?
Quiz
Which two food safety organizations have repeatedly classified MSG as "generally recognized as safe"?