MSG not needed

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been used for a long time as a taste enhancer, and it is only used for that purpose. Although I am not a chemist I have never heard of MSG being used, for instance, as a preservative, or for other reasons.

Any producer of food (including snacks) using MSG is in my opinion just too lazy to find a better and safer substitute and is acting totally irresponsibly, as taste enhancement can easily be achieved by using natural ingredients in the form of spices.

It is a simple fact that MSG is, or can be, detrimental to your health, even if it is on the list of allowed substances, issued by the various controlling agencies. The fact is that in Europe (I do not have data from the U.S.) a large number of people suffer from vertigo, stomach ailments, kidney problems etc. where in each case MSG was found to be the culprit. There is even the so-called "China-Syndrome" (in fairness it should be called "Asian Food Syndrome"), due to the findings that the persons in question frequented Asian, and mostly Chinese food outlets.

Why individuals defend the use of MSG is beyond my understanding; and that it has not yet been more restricted, or even totally banned. You can be sure that you will not find any MSG in our kitchen.

HARM G. FREY Jakarta