Myth busting: MSG has been found in Maggi, but is it really so bad for you?

We are a nation of Maggi lovers, so despite all the current concerns about the safety of the noodles, there are many who will still go back to the beloved brand. But even if worries about lead are dealt with, Maggi from now is still going to clearly state that it has Monosodium Glutamate – MSG – which has caused almost as much concern as the lead. While many think MSG is a bad thing, is it really harmful? MSG is used by cooks the world over to produce Umami: a savory flavour, named after the Japanese word that literally means delicious. The flavour basically comes from the amino acid of L-Glutamate which is found widely in many products that contain high protein, such as meat, dairy products and even vegetables. In fact, even our body produces glutamate while metabolizing food. Few studies can actually point to seriously harmful effects of MSG, which is why people in China, who use it a lot more, do not exactly have a headache all the time.