Home | | Modern Medical Toxicology | Chemicals: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - Food Poisoning

Chapter: Modern Medical Toxicology: Food Poisons: Food Poisoning

Chemicals: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - Food Poisoning

Chemical contaminants of food include heavy metals, pesticides, and food additives.

Chemicals

Chemical contaminants of food include heavy metals, pesticides, and food additives. The last mentioned will be discussed in this section, while the other two entities are discussed elsewhere.

Food additives may be antioxidants, flavouring agents,colouring agents, sweetening agents, thickening agents, or preservatives (Table 33.11).


Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Synonyms

Accent, Ajinomoto, Chinese Seasoning, Glutacyl, Vetsin, Zest.

Uses

■■   Flavouring agent in foods, especially Chinese food, sausages, canned soup, etc.* MSG is generally sold as a fine, white crystalline substance, similar in appearance to salt or sugar. It has a sweetish saline taste.

■■ MSG has been used to treat patients with hyperammon-aemia in conditions such as hepatic encephalopathy. 

Source

·     Glutamate, a major building block of proteins, is released during breakdown of a protein molecule, and occurs naturally in many foods (meat, milk, mushrooms, cheese, tomatoes, etc.). Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the monosodium salt of L-glutamic acid. It is produced by the following processes:

o     Fermentation of carbohydrate sources such as sugar beet molasses.

o     Hydrolysis of vegetable proteins.

o     Waste from beet-sugar molasses by acid hydrolysis.

o     By action of Micrococcus glutamicus upon a carbohy-drate, and subsequent partial neutralisation.

Clinical Features

·              Ingestion of large quantities of MSG is said to cause the Chinese restaurant syndrome ( CRS), though doubts havebeen expressed of late on the role of MSG in the aetiology of the syndrome.

·              Features include burning or tingling sensation and numb-ness of face, trunk, and upper limbs, weakness, dizziness, syncope, flushing, lacrimation, sweating, chest pain, head-ache, nausea, gastric distress, and rarely bronchospasm and angioedema. In young children, a convulsive attack may occur (shudder attack). Symptoms resolve on their own, and rarely last for more than half to one hour.

Treatment

·              Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Gastrointestinal decontamination is generally not indicated after an acute inges-tion. Toxicity is very unlikely.

Preventive Measures

·              The syndrome can generally be prevented by prior ingestion of “safe foods” such as a glass of milk or a slice of cottage cheese. The following preventive measures have been suggested for MSG-sensitive individuals:

·              When shopping for food items, read labels and avoid foods which contain MSG—canned foods (except vegetables and fruits), soya sauce, dried foods, and processed meats. Avoid catered food (including airline meals).

·              If it is planned to dine out at a hotel

o     Phone ahead and request food without MSG.

o     Eat a snack before you go: cottage cheese or a glass of milk.

o     Avoid alcohol.

o     Do not eat hors d’oeuvres or soup.

o     Avoid casserole dishes, Chinese foods, and marinated meats.  

o     Avoid salad dressings.

o     Eat only freshly prepared, broiled, or sauteed meats or fish (without sauces or seasoning).

o     Drink a cup of coffee along with the meal, or soon thereafter.

Of late, there are doubts being raised about the actual role of MSG in human illness. The USFDA has studied adverse reac- tion reports and other data concerning MSG’s safety for several years, and believes that while some sensitive people can have mild and transitory reactions when they consume significant amounts of MSG, it is still a safe food ingredient for the general population. In 1995, a report from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) affirmed the FDA’s belief that MSG and related substances are safe food ingredients for most people when eaten at moderate levels. This report identified short-term reactions known as ‘MSG Symptom Complex’ in two groups of people. Individuals in the first group suffer a reaction after eating large doses (3 gm or more per meal) of MSG, particularly on an empty stomach. In the second group, individuals with severe and poorly controlled asthma may, in addition, experience difficulty in breathing.

Although some studies have reported MSG-induced asthma attacks in asthmatic patients, several other studies could not confirm their results.


Study Material, Lecturing Notes, Assignment, Reference, Wiki description explanation, brief detail
Modern Medical Toxicology: Food Poisons: Food Poisoning : Chemicals: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - Food Poisoning |

Related Topics

Modern Medical Toxicology: Food Poisons: Food Poisoning


Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, DMCA Policy and Compliant

Copyright © 2018-2023 BrainKart.com; All Rights Reserved. Developed by Therithal info, Chennai.