How often have you heard about the dangers of MSG, Mom?
Or perhaps you’ve come across comments like, “Oh no, Mom… don’t use MSG or mecin in your child’s food, it can make them stupid.”
Or even, “Why would you let your child eat snacks full of MSG like that? Aren’t you afraid they’ll grow up slow?”
Those kinds of remarks sound pretty familiar, right? You might already be very used to similar warnings claiming that mecin, or Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), can damage a child’s brain.
Is MSG really that dangerous? Before falling into misleading beliefs, it’s best for you to learn some facts about MSG and how harmful it really is.
What Is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)?
Monosodium glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. Glutamic acid itself naturally exists in our bodies and is also found in various foods and food additives. MSG is also commonly found in foods such as tomatoes and cheese.
Before diving deeper into the potential dangers of MSG, Dr. Meta Hanindita, SpA, on her personal Instagram account (@metahanindita), shared important facts about MSG.
This pediatrician, known for sharing information about children’s health and development, refers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which states that monosodium glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid.
And did you know that breast milk also contains MSG?
“MSG is found in many foods like tomatoes and cheese. Historically, in 1980, a Japanese professor named Ikeda successfully extracted glutamate from broth. It turned out to have a savory taste (called Umami in Japanese),” wrote Dr. Meta.
Dr. Meta further explained that MSG used to be extracted from seaweed broth, but today MSG is produced through the fermentation of flour and sugar. This extraction process is similar to how yogurt and wine are made.
Why Should MSG Be Added to Food?
According to Dr. Meta, “MSG itself has no taste, but it helps enhance the natural savory (umami) flavor of food—it’s known as a flavor enhancer. When MSG is added, the umami taste of food becomes stronger.”
Besides that, MSG also serves to reduce sodium or salt levels while still keeping dishes tasty. In fact, MSG contains only about one-third of the sodium found in regular table salt.
“MSG added to food represents only a tiny portion of the total glutamate in many foods. For example, the average daily intake of glutamate from regular food is about 15 grams, while added MSG only averages around 0.5–3.0 grams per day,” she added.
So, if you’re trying to lower your salt intake but still want flavorful food, MSG is a great option. That’s the original purpose behind the creation of MSG.
Is MSG Dangerous? Can It Really Damage a Baby’s or Child’s Brain?
MSG Dangers: Remember those common assumptions you’ve often heard, Parents? In reality, they are not true. In fact, breast milk also contains MSG—this is one reason babies love breast milk so much.
Once again, Dr. Meta emphasized that consuming MSG does not cause any side effects on the human brain. What she stated has even been supported by various studies conducted in the United States and Europe.
“Research shows that even at the highest doses (150 mg/kg of body weight), MSG consumption does not cause any effect on the human brain,” wrote Dr. Meta.
How Much MSG Is Safe to Consume?
The World Health Organization (1970) stated that MSG is safe when consumed in amounts up to 0–120 mg per kilogram of body weight. Meanwhile, the FDA has also declared MSG safe for consumption, even though public stigma about its harmful effects still persists.
Dr. Meta added that the amount of MSG one can consume is actually individual.
“Have you ever tried MSG? If there’s too much, food doesn’t taste better—it actually becomes bitter. That’s why there’s never been an official recommended daily limit for MSG, because it’s naturally self-limiting. You can add as much as you like, but if it’s too much, it won’t taste good,” explained Dr. Meta.
Since research has not proven that MSG is harmful, causes cancer, or damages the brain, there’s no need to be overly worried about foods containing MSG. As Dr. Meta explained, MSG is safe to consume and not harmful for babies.
Here are some key takeaways about MSG dangers:
- MSG is not dangerous and is safe for babies and children to consume.
- Breast milk, the best food for infants, contains MSG, which helps stimulate feeding.
- There is no scientific evidence that MSG causes brain damage.
- MSG is self-limiting—too much can ruin the natural flavor of food.
- Like any other protein, some people may be allergic to MSG and experience symptoms like dizziness or palpitations, but not everyone will have this reaction.
So, Parents, it’s time to let go of the belief that MSG harms the brain or makes children less intelligent. In fact, MSG can be used as a flavor enhancer to help babies and children enjoy eating.
The amount of MSG used in complementary foods (MPASI) or regular meals depends on how the food tastes after adding it. If it’s too much, it will actually spoil the flavor.
If you want your child’s brain to develop optimally, the most important thing is to ensure they’re getting proper nutrition.
Make sure your child does not experience stunting, which has been proven to reduce intelligence levels.
