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Is MSG naturally occurring?
I got in an argument with someone about msg yesterday. They said that msg is naturally occurring. The FDAs website agrees that it is naturally occurring but that wouldn't be the first time the FDA gave false information.
My argument is that the sodium salt MSG is a synthetically derived chemical. While glutamate is a naturally found amino acid in us and many of the foods we eat, MSG is in no way natural.
Looking for intelligent opinions on the subject. I'm trying to find a definitive answer, even if that means I'm wrong. Thanks for reading and answering!
2 Answers
- Dr WLv 77 years ago
glutamic acid is naturally occurring.. that is true
.. ... .O.. ... ... ..O
.. .. ..||... . ... ... ||
H-O-C-C-C-C-C-OH
.. ... ... ... ... .|
.... .... ... .. ..NH2
.. . glutamic acid
but.. because sodium is everywhere and because many acids are found in their salt forms, this is certainly found in nature too.
.. ... .O.. ... ... ..O
.. .. ..||... . ... ... ||
H-O-C-C-C-C-C-O-Na
.. ... ... ... ... .|
.... .... ... .. ..NH2
.. . monosodium salt of glutamic acid.. aka.. MSG
*****
MSG is definitely a naturally occurring substance. However.. the MSG you buy in a jar is manufactured in a chemical plant. The most common reaction is
.. .... .... .... ..... ...... .bacterial fermentation... .. .... ... ... ... ..Na+
.. sugar + ammonia ------ ----- ----- ---- ---- -> glutamic acid ----->.. MSG
*******
but.. because bacterial fermentation of sugars is also used to manufacture
.. vinegar.. ... .... ... ... ... ..which is used in a variety of foods
.. pharmaceutical drugs.. such as pseudoephedrine
.. booze..... .... ... ..... ... ...wine, beer, whiskey, etc
.. diary products.. ... .. .. ...cheese, yogurt, etc
etc
etc
etc.
your argument..
.. (p1).. manufactured ingredients are not natural
.. (p2).. MSG is a manufactured food ingredient
.. (C1).. because MSG is not manufactured it is not natural
..
.. (p3).. MSG is not natural
.. (p4).. food ingredients that are not natural are bad for you
.. (c2).. therefore.. MSG is bad for you
is not a sound logical argument.. because
.. (1) we can reproduce chemicals found nature via chemical processes
.. (2) many manufactured food ingredients are not bad for you
A better argument against MSG would be based on
.. (1) negative effects of MSG
.. (2) negative effects of impurities in MSG
- ?Lv 77 years ago
Yes.
"the sodium salt MSG is a synthetically derived chemical."
It's prepared by fermentation. Bacteria produce glutamic acid which is reacted with sodium hydroxide to produce msg. It's not synthetic, it's a natural, but that doesn't mean it is healthy.
