Reading Food Labels – MSG

With the blessing of the Department of Agriculture, food manufacturers must list MSG as an ingredient only if it is added as a separate and unique item. If another processed ingredient in the product already contains MSG, no matter the quantity of the chemical, the manufacturer does not have to list MSG as an ingredient. Also, the manufacturer may list the process of creating the food product (i.e. ultra-pasteurized) that includes adding MSG without listing MSG. The “short list” of 58 ingredients containing quantities of MSG is as follows:

1. Carrageenan,
2. Wheat, rice, corn, or oat protein,
3. Protein Fortified Milk,
4. Whey Protein or Whey,
5. Anything enriched or vitamin enriched,
6. Annatto,
7. Whey Protein Isolate or Concentrate,
8. Protein fortified “anything”,
9. Spice,
10. Pectin,
11. Enzyme modified proteins,
12. Gums (guar and vegetable),
13. Protease,
14. Ultra-pasteurized dairy products,
15. Dough Conditioners,
16. Malted Barley (flavor),
17. Natural Flavors,
18. Flavors, Flavoring,
19. Modified food starch,
20. Barley malt,
21. Reaction Flavors,
22. Rice syrup or brown rice syrup,
23. Malt Extract or Flavoring,
24. Maltodextrin,
25. dextrose,
26. dextrates,
27. Soy Sauce or Extract,
28. “Low” or “No Fat” items,
29. Caramel Flavoring (coloring),
30. Soy Protein,
31. Corn syrup and corn syrup solids,
32. high fructose corn syrup,
33. Stock,
34. Soy Protein Isolate or Concentrate,
35. Citric Acid (when processed from corn),
36. Malt Extract or Flavoring,
37. Natural Chicken, Beef, or Pork, Flavoring “Seasonings” (Most assume this means salt, pepper, or spices and herbs, which sometimes it is.)
38. Lipolyzed butter fat,
39. Protease enzymes,
40. Fermented proteins,
41. Yeast Nutrients,
42. Lecithin,
43. Gluten and gluten flour,
44. Protein powders: whey, soy, oat, rice (as in protein bars shakes and body building drinks),
45. Amino acids (as in Bragg’s liquid amino acids and chelated to vitamins),
46. Algae,
47. phytoplankton,
48. sea vegetable,
49. wheat/ barley grass powders, Stock,
50. Soy Protein Isolate or Concentrate,
51. Citric Acid (when processed from corn),
52. Broth,
53. Cornstarch fructose (made from corn),
54. Milk Powder,
55. Bouillon,
56. Flowing Agents,
57. Dry Milk Solids.
58. “Ultra-pasteurized” anything.