Why do some Chinese restaurants feel like they have to load up their food with MSG?

Question

I mean, knowing that many people are allergic to the stuff, and it makes them ill? Isn't there a better way?

I know it must be MSG, because it tastes unusually good, and gives me a splitting headache after consuming it.

Answer 1

why do italian restraunts load up their food up with olive oil or tomato sauce??? cause thats how they make their food!!! if you know your alergic to msg (which is bad for everyone by the way) ask them not to add msg to whatever youre ordering and make it a point that your alergic to it just dont be rude

Answer 2

You've run into a similar problem that I have. I can't stand the taste of ginger and they have a tendency to over do it in certain receipts. The only solution I can suggest is to do what I do. Plainly, just go to a different restruant, don't blame the resturant as every cook no matter where you go uses seasonings differently then the others. If the resturant prepares their simple sauces they use before they cook there's nothing you can do other the ask the waitress if the dish you'd like has MSG in it and ask which items on the menu don't and order accordingly. Good Luck

Answer 3

Chinese restaurants really have this MSG stigma don't they. I always laugh when I see a "NO MSG" sign. What's funnier is that MSG is used in all sorts of food products-- mostly prepackaged products, i.e. sauce mixes, gravy mixes, breadings, bottled sauce products, etc. So, truth be known, you're probably getting just as much MSG in your TGIFriday's chicken strips or your Chili's Baby Back Rib rubs & sauce.

MSG is like the crack cocaine version of table salt. It is a quick convenient & cheap flavor enhancement substitute for real culinary skill and fresh quality seasonings.

In fairness, it is also just a by-product of fermented molasses and not some monster chemical cocktail that it's name might imply. MSG wouldn't be such an issue if it had a more natural name. Yes, it does affect some people, but realize that some people can die from eating peanuts. But peanuts don't get much bad PR, because "peanut" is such a harmless little word.

Chinese restaurants don't get a bad rap for Kung Pow... That's because it's just peanuts.

Answer 4

I don't know about the Chinese restaurants in your area, but the ones where I live only add it to the dishes only if you want it. They started doing it because of the rising health concerns, and I think it was more because of the sodium content (that's what the "s" stands for) that causes high blood pressure. The MSG is actually an American thing. Way back when, they didn't think Chinese food was "spicy" enough. Leave it to us to ruin something good by drenching it so much it covers up the good flavors. I'm guilty, I do it to my salad. (But that dressing is sooooo good!)

Answer 5

MSG apparently never affected anyone until the FDA demanded it be labelled "Monosodium Glutamate". Prior to that, it was used for some 3000 years (called "seasoning salt") and no-one had a problem. Strange, huh?

The structure of the MSG molecule is so similar to amino acids that people are made of, that people with an msg "problem" ought really to be allergic to themselves.

That's not so say some people may have some sort of sensitivity to it, but aren't we arresting the normal progress of evolution by pandering to these people?

It's like the "peanut allergy", we can't rid the world of peanuts!

Answer 6

If msg has to be used in food the the food must taste awfull with out it. If people would just get a clue and use celtic salt in the food they cook then they wouldn't have to use msg. Its super unhealthy. They want you to eat their super yummy food, yeah right. Bad stuff. Stay away. I do. And beware, so of their establishments sell four legged creatures as chicken also...with out you knowing it.

Answer 7

Chinese people love to use additives for the taste .I think u wont found its taste whatever chinese food ur eating.Actually they use real taste.

Answer 8

Some restaurant owners don't care what they put in the food they sell.

Answer 9

because its a flavor enhancer, some places don't use MSG

Answer 10

maybe they want people to enjoy the food?(saying this in a good way)