Food Trivia & Facts Section: FoodReference.com

  Also see: Articles and Kitchen Tips

FOOD FACTS & FOOD TRIVIA MINCEMEAT to MORTAR    •     Mincemeat & Mince Pie    •     Minerals    •     Minnesota Food Trivia    •     Minnesota Food Statistics    •     Mint    •     Mint Family    •     Miracle Fruit    •     Mirepoix    •     Mirin    •     Mirliton    •     Miso    •     Mississippi    •     Missouri    •     Mizuna    •     Mock Turtle Soup    •     Molasses    •     Molecular Gastronomy    •     Molson Beer    •     Monkey Bread    •     Monkey Dish    •     Monkey Pot    •     Monkfish    •     Monosodium Glutamate    •     Monstera    •     Montana    •     Monte Cristo    •     Monterey Jack Cheese    •    MoonPies    •     Moonshine    •     Mopane Worm    •     Moqua    •     Moray Eel    •     Morbier Cheese    •     Morels    •     Mortadella    •     Mornay Sauce    •     Mortar and Pestle

COOKING SCHOOLS & COOKING CLASSES From Amateur & Basic Cooking Classes to Professional Chef Training & Degrees -  Associates, Bachelors & Masters More than 1,000 schools & classes listed for all 50 States, Online and Worldwide

See Also Article: MSG, A Common Flavor Enhancer

MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (MSG)

Ajinomoto is a Japanese brand name for MSG, monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer. Ac'cent is the primary U.S. brand name, and the Chinese version is called ve-tsin.

MSG has very little flavor of its own, but it 'improves' or enhances the flavor of other foods it is used with.

Some individuals seem to be sensitive to MSG, and exhibit what is known as 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome' (because of its use in Asian cooking). The symptoms include headaches, chest pains, facial pressure, burning sensations, and sweating. The FDA continues to list it as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), but all foods containing MSG must state so on the label.