My Maggi – Excess of MSG

For many years Nestle has asked for only 2 minutes of our time to deliver their divine tasting cup of steaming hot Maggi noodles. We all have grown up with it and until recently it was the best companion of almost every person I remember. The recent discovery that Maggi contains high levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and lead compounds has completely made their famous punch line, ‘Taste Bhi, Health Bhi’ (Health along with taste!) unsuitable and misguiding. While there is no doubt that the taste remains, it does so at the expense of our health.

The misleading advertisements have put the company, including the product’s brand ambassadors in a legal situation. Let’s find out what has suddenly made Maggi the most disliked name, which was once the most famous and loved food among all.

Some samples of Maggi noodles from the city of Uttar Pradesh indicated levels of MSG and lead compounds in excess of the maximum approved limit. The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) of Lucknow has appealed to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in New Delhi to cancel Maggi’s license. If the charges are proven, we will have to say goodbye to the noodles which once was a way of life for many.

The MSG link
Monosodium glutamate or MSG is a sodium salt of the amino acid, glutamic acid. MSG is a common flavor enhancer and is used in a number of dishes, especially Chinese preparations. MSG interacts with other flavors of food and enhances their taste by triggering the umami receptors of the taste buds. Due to this taste enhancing property, MSG was once widely used in many food products like tinned foods, soups, salad dressings, snacks, gums, frozen and ready to eat products. It was so famous that it was even added to ice creams and baby foods once.

However, when Chinese restaurant syndrome kicked in, the cause of its symptoms was found to be due to the excessive use of MSG in daily diets which then began the decline of MSG.

Some of the common symptoms associated with excessive MSG consumption are:

• Headache
• Facial pressure
• Numbness
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Weakness and flushing
• Heart palpitations

Long term consumption of foods containing MSG may also cause seizures, brain damage, eye problems in children, liver inflammation, hypertension and weight gain. Together these are also called the MSG symptom complex. Due to its arguable reputation, the FDA requires MSG to be is listed in the food label when added to food.

The reports suggested that the samples of Maggi that were tested had 17 parts per million (ppm) lead, against the allowed limit of 0.01 ppm. High levels of lead may cause developmental delay, learning difficulty, irritability, dullness, weakness, abdominal pain and loss of appetite.

Maggi lovers would still agree that nothing can match the magical flavor and comfort that this noodles provides. However, it surely is time to rediscover flavors and look for alternatives that would fill you instantly and add health to your life.