Comments on: In Praise of MSG http://peter.beachheadonline.com/blog/2008/03/05/in-praise-of-msg/ Word is born. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:36:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Max http://peter.beachheadonline.com/blog/2008/03/05/in-praise-of-msg/#comment-10249 Max Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:42:02 +0000 http://peter.beachheadonline.com/blog/2008/03/05/in-praise-of-msg/#comment-10249 It's been known for many years, even decades, that the MSG scare was total crap -- mostly just know-nothing Americans swept away by a combination of xenophobia and the natural food craze. As I understand it, western apprehensions about MSG are considered a joke, as in quite literally comical, in East Asia. Everybody in Japan has eaten MSG constantly for a couple of generations, and they're arguably the healthiest population on the planet. Certainly no epidemics of numbness and weakness. My favorite MSG-containing foods are those Chinese shrimp chips you can find at Asian groceries, and of course the immortal 25-cent Maruchan ramen packs. It’s been known for many years, even decades, that the MSG scare was total crap — mostly just know-nothing Americans swept away by a combination of xenophobia and the natural food craze.

As I understand it, western apprehensions about MSG are considered a joke, as in quite literally comical, in East Asia. Everybody in Japan has eaten MSG constantly for a couple of generations, and they’re arguably the healthiest population on the planet. Certainly no epidemics of numbness and weakness.

My favorite MSG-containing foods are those Chinese shrimp chips you can find at Asian groceries, and of course the immortal 25-cent Maruchan ramen packs.

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