- #1
beamthegreat
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How safe is monosodium glutamate in your opinion?
How does the FDA regulate the safety of monosodium glutamate?
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the safety of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and how it is regulated by the FDA. Participants express varying opinions on the nature of safety, the role of personal opinion versus scientific evidence, and the historical context of MSG's reputation.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Meta-discussion
Main Points Raised
- Some participants question the validity of discussing safety as a matter of opinion, suggesting that safety should be based on factual evidence.
- One participant emphasizes the importance of published research over personal anecdotes, indicating that opinions on MSG's health effects vary widely among chefs and the general public.
- A participant provides a link to the FDA's response regarding MSG safety, suggesting it as a definitive source of information.
- Another participant shares a narrative about the origins of the MSG scare, mentioning a hoax involving a fake article that contributed to public fear of MSG.
- There is a suggestion to analyze the writing styles of the doctors involved in the MSG scare to clarify the historical context.
- One participant reiterates the importance of consulting government agency resources for health and safety issues, specifically referencing the FDA's stance on MSG.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of safety regarding MSG, with ongoing debate about the reliance on personal opinion versus scientific evidence. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of the historical context of MSG's safety.
Contextual Notes
Participants express uncertainty about the impact of personal beliefs on perceptions of MSG safety and the historical narrative surrounding its regulation. There are references to specific studies and anecdotal evidence that remain unverified within the discussion.
- #2
Vanadium 50
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Isn't safety a matter of fact and not a matter of opinion?
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It is, and hence this thread is not quite meaningful in my opinion. Restaurant chefs who use MSG will tell you that it is very good for health (perhaps even compare it to a vitamin supplement), while a common man might hold a different view. What actually matters is what published research tells us.Vanadium 50 said:
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Nugatory
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If someone can suggest a proper peer-reviewed publication, we might be able to have a sensible discussion. But a poll isn't going to provide anything useful - this thread is closed
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- #5
jedishrfu
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Here's the FDA response to MSG safety:
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/questions-and-answers-monosodium-glutamate-msg
This FAQ is pretty definitive.
There was a recent podcast on how this scare started.
It was supposedly a hoax between two doctors who argued that no surgeon is ever going to get an article in the New England Journal of Medicine and so one doctor did with this fake article that he thought for sure would get exposed (via the Doctors name).
Only it didn't and other doctors chimed in until people started to avoid Chinese restaurants because of it. He tried to get it retracted but to no avail. The editors wouldn't believe him especially since his name wasn't the author of the article.
Years later a graduate student tracked him down and got the full story.
668: The Long Fuse - This American LifeThe story is complicated and confusing but one doctor known for jokes claimed he wrote the letter to the journal as a joke. However further research found that the author named on the letter is real and is now believed to be Dr Robert Ho Man Kwok, a pediatrician and researcher at the National Biomedical Research Foundation (a real foundation).
So the joke is either the letter (Dr Kwok) or the fake of saying you wrote the letter (Dr Steele) and making everyone believe your story into perpetuity.
Where is Sherlock Holmes when we need him?
Perhaps someone could run a test against the papers written by either doctor and see which one matched the style ala Shakespeare vs Roger Bacon analysis.
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/questions-and-answers-monosodium-glutamate-msg
This FAQ is pretty definitive.
There was a recent podcast on how this scare started.
It was supposedly a hoax between two doctors who argued that no surgeon is ever going to get an article in the New England Journal of Medicine and so one doctor did with this fake article that he thought for sure would get exposed (via the Doctors name).
Only it didn't and other doctors chimed in until people started to avoid Chinese restaurants because of it. He tried to get it retracted but to no avail. The editors wouldn't believe him especially since his name wasn't the author of the article.
Years later a graduate student tracked him down and got the full story.
668: The Long Fuse - This American LifeThe story is complicated and confusing but one doctor known for jokes claimed he wrote the letter to the journal as a joke. However further research found that the author named on the letter is real and is now believed to be Dr Robert Ho Man Kwok, a pediatrician and researcher at the National Biomedical Research Foundation (a real foundation).
So the joke is either the letter (Dr Kwok) or the fake of saying you wrote the letter (Dr Steele) and making everyone believe your story into perpetuity.
Where is Sherlock Holmes when we need him?
Perhaps someone could run a test against the papers written by either doctor and see which one matched the style ala Shakespeare vs Roger Bacon analysis.
Last edited:
- #6
russ_watters
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Also, fyi, for issues of health and safety it is always a good idea to start by looking at what the government agency responsible for regulating safety has to say about the issue:
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/questions-and-answers-monosodium-glutamate-msg
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/questions-and-answers-monosodium-glutamate-msg