MSG in Thai food

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Nereus
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MSG in Thai food

Post by Nereus »

We seem to have tested and cooked all the eggs, so here is food for thought. I do not use any in cooking, but if you buy any food that you do not prepare from fresh yourself, then it is difficult to avoid.
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The truth about MSG

https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-th ... liABAHZ.97

‘Thai food’ is wonderful but be careful of the poison: MSG

https://7muaythai.com/thai-food-healty-be-careful-msg/
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by Dannie Boy »

Nereus wrote: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:48 pm We seem to have tested and cooked all the eggs, so here is food for thought. I do not use any in cooking, but if you buy any food that you do not prepare from fresh yourself, then it is difficult to avoid.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

The truth about MSG

https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-th ... liABAHZ.97

‘Thai food’ is wonderful but be careful of the poison: MSG

https://7muaythai.com/thai-food-healty-be-careful-msg/
There are a lot of conflicting reports about MSG but of the few that I’ve read in full, the bottom line appears to be that eaten in modest amounts, the majority of people will suffer no harm from consuming MSG.
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by caller »

I thought it had been declared well and truly safe! Scientists have been testing it for years and whilst they say too much won't be good for you and just as with any food, some have sensitivities towards it, for most, it's perfectly safe. Just a quick check on the net showed this to be the case and I was surprised to learn it appears naturally in some foods such as tomato's and cheese.
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by hin »

Like the article says, the MSG that already is present naturally in some foods is an amino acid, is OK and is good. “However, it is industrially processed and hydrolysed when manufactured for consumption, thus turning it into a neurotoxin” - Its the processed stuff that is bad news. Especially for people who are allergic to it.

Like sugar, ice, or anything else, if people here add it they usually will add a LOT. If the food tastes unusually salty suspect lots of MSG. If you ask for “no MSG” hopefully you will not get the whole bag but will still get some as like the article also says, it is already included in most fish sauce, oyster sauce, bean sauce, soy sauce and others that are used in almost all Thai food. So you will already have it ‘in moderation’ no need to be adding more
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by oakdale160 »

If it is food cooked in front of you and is individualized there is a chance of cutting down on the MSG and sugar.
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Re: MSG inThai food

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caller wrote: Fri Aug 10, 2018 7:27 pm I thought it had been declared well and truly safe! Scientists have been testing it for years and whilst they say too much won't be good for you and just as with any food, some have sensitivities towards it, for most, it's perfectly safe. Just a quick check on the net showed this to be the case and I was surprised to learn it appears naturally in some foods such as tomato's and cheese.
You are absolutely correct.

I personally have no use for it, since I prepare 99% of the meals I eat and there is simply no need for me to add msg. However, it really isn't something I would worry about.

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Re: MSG inThai food

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Takiap wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 7:33 am
caller wrote: Fri Aug 10, 2018 7:27 pm I thought it had been declared well and truly safe! Scientists have been testing it for years and whilst they say too much won't be good for you and just as with any food, some have sensitivities towards it, for most, it's perfectly safe. Just a quick check on the net showed this to be the case and I was surprised to learn it appears naturally in some foods such as tomato's and cheese.
You are absolutely correct.

I personally have no use for it, since I prepare 99% of the meals I eat and there is simply no need for me to add msg. However, it really isn't something I would worry about.

:cheers: :cheers:
I actually thought it had been banned both in Australia and the UK (not sure elsewhere). Obviously with my time both in China and Thailand, I'm well aware of it. The LHG did use to use it extensively in China - more I think from "family Recipes". Great as a "tenderiser", but when you have good quality meat, there's no need - the LHG also discovered this one!! :wink:

Even though it's banned (I believe) in the UK, we still can obtain in Chinese Supermarkets.

Ultimately, I have a source of great quality meat, can "tenderise" poorer quality meat, so would not use it. I doubt very much Europeans know what it is.

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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by HHTel »

I was curious about this so I 'googled' it. I can't find any reference of it being banned in the UK or Australia. In fact Australia has strict regulations about food additives until they are proved safe. MSG has been identified as being safe. All food additives must be shown on the packaging except in restaurants. The rule seems to be similar in the UK.

Where MSG has been banned, in general the ban was lifted after tests showed it to be safe.

I'd be interested in links that say otherwise. I can't find any.
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by HHTel »

You can buy it in Sainsbury's and lots of UK online shops!
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by hin »

If you would like to eat TSP it is one of the ingredients in Cheerios - listed right on the package. Unbeatable stain remover and degreaser but I doubt anyone would want to sprinkle it on their meal. Some people would say they would not eat paraffin wax. But it is the principal ingredient in chocolates and Hershey bars. Could go on and on. Just because MSG seems to be accepted in most Asian sauces and meat tenderizers does not tempt me to buy a package of it to sprinkle on my food and I do not want restaurants to sprinkle it on my food either. I do not consider it a plus and food without it is not a minus.

Regarding the law, also look up the lawful tolerance levels for dead insects, mouse turds, etc when food is being processed. You might be surprised - so much for taking the law to be our guidance. Google ‘Roundup’ it was touted to be perfectly safe, for what, 40 or more years..? Now they know better. No MSG for me. Some people here are championing it but no posts yet explaining what is good about it. Especially in the huge portions some cooks use. Old habits persist, the flip side could be iodine = very necessary, but a lot of people here still do not accept iodized salt - Google that..
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by pharvey »

HHTel wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:40 pm You can buy it in Sainsbury's and lots of UK online shops!
Obviously thinking it was banned, I'd not realised that!! I'll have to have a look to confirm, but I'm sure it had been banned. Perhaps as stated above, the ban(s) have been lifted?

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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by handdrummer »

When ever testing is done and a controversial food or additive is shown to be safe, find out who paid for the tests and that will tell you the outcome.
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by HHTel »

Well food additives in Oz have to be approved by the Food Authority. Don't know who did the tests. I was quite surprised that MSG appears naturally in some foods.
Glutamic acid is naturally present in our bodies, and in many foods and food additives. MSG occurs naturally in many foods, such as tomatoes and cheeses. People around the world have eaten glutamate-rich foods throughout history. For example, a historical dish in the Asian community is a glutamate-rich seaweed broth.
'Natural' is certainly not the result of some maybe biased tests.
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by handdrummer »

HHTel wrote: Mon Aug 13, 2018 5:28 pm Well food additives in Oz have to be approved by the Food Authority. Don't know who did the tests. I was quite surprised that MSG appears naturally in some foods.
Glutamic acid is naturally present in our bodies, and in many foods and food additives. MSG occurs naturally in many foods, such as tomatoes and cheeses. People around the world have eaten glutamate-rich foods throughout history. For example, a historical dish in the Asian community is a glutamate-rich seaweed broth.
'Natural' is certainly not the result of some maybe biased tests.
I was referring to the addition of msg to non msg foods. It doesn't bother me when it occurs naturally but when added to other foods hits the back of my head like a 2x4
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Re: MSG inThai food

Post by HHTel »

I think the problem is the fact that msg as an additive is synthetic and carries all the problems relating to 'synthetic copies'.
If it was in the form of a natural extract there wouldn't be a problem. It's found naturally in a large variety of foods. i.e.
Ocean vegetables, especially kombu seaweed
Green tea
Tomato, especially ripe tomato
Potato
Chinese cabbage
Soybean
Cheese, such as parmesan or Roquefort
Sardines
Prawns
Clams
meat
eggs
poultry
milk
fish
wheat
beans
vegetables
mushrooms
fruits

Even breast milk!

Other names that are used on labels and which bears synthetic msg are
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Autolyzed yeast
Hydrolyzed yeast
Yeast extract
Soy extract
Protein isolate
Natural flavor

Although I can understand the difference between natural and synthetic, it seems the only way to avoid it is never to eat processed foods.
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