fbpx
Site logo

--- Advertisement ---

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

MSG in Street and Restaurant Food

How bad is MSG? And should we avoid it?

The term MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) crops up a lot when it comes to the food we eat, particularly here in Bangkok.  It is a seasoning regularly used in Asian cooking to bring out the ‘umami’ or ‘savoury’ flavour of a dish. Its founder, University of Tokyo chemistry professor Kikunae Ikeda discovered it in 1907, to be an additional flavour sensation to sweetness, sourness, saltiness and bitterness.

Although the FDA has classified it ‘Generally Recognised as Safe’, there are ongoing concerns about consuming food containing MSG, the levels found in food in Thailand, and the effects these have on us and our children.

Food is everywhere in Bangkok, and there’s nothing better than skipping down to the market and picking up some take away for dinner or going to a local Thai restaurant to enjoy family favourites at the end of a long week. But unlike many Western countries, there is little legislation about quantities of additives used in food, or even laws ensuring the vendors disclose to the customers that MSG is present in the food being served in their establishments. (That’s not to say that Thailand hasn’t recognised the importance of addressing certain street food safety and cleanliness issues in existing legislations.)

Research has shown that ingesting MSG can cause a range of issues from headaches to heart palpitations. From the studies taken, it’s clear that MSG affects some more than others. But should we eat it without worrying, or should we be more careful about what’s being added to our food and how it affects our children?

Unless someone in your family speaks good Thai, or you have access to a good translation tool, it is always going to be difficult to find out whether there’s MSG in the food you’re eating, especially when dining outside of the home. There are some food producers and restaurants that pride themselves on being MSG free so it’s always worth shopping with reputable retailers, or checking with a restaurant before spending your money there.

As for street food, well, that’s a different matter. If anyone in your family has had a reaction to MSG, then it may be best to avoid unknown vendors all together, no matter how much everyone loves the food they produce.

It’s often quite easy to reproduce the meals at home from freshly bought ingredients. Granted, it won’t be as cheap or easy but preparing the food yourself prevents any problems with encountering MSG.

The current thinking is that MSG causes little harm to adults or children if eaten in moderation but the overriding solution should be that if you think you or your child reacts to MSG, then avoid it. It is possible to live without MSG, but it means more home prepared food and less whimsical stop offs for lunch in town.

Register your email address here and we’ll notify you when a new article gets uploaded.

Pssst... like what you're reading?

Join our community and never miss an event, post or update!

Just enter your email address below:

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Follow Us!

Upcoming Events

Wellington College International Bangkok – Football Training

Wellington College International Bangkok 18 Krungthep Kreetha Road Saphan Sung District, Bangkok, Thailand

Join us here at Wellington for the finest football training in town! Our Wellington Extra providers, Galaxy, have lots of extra opportunities on their programmes this year. If your child […]

฿12000 – ฿35200

BimBi Italiani – Imparando l’Italiano

Salesian Sisters Foundation Saladaeng Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok, Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand +1 more

ANNOUNCEMENT : ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR "IMPARANDO L'ITALIANO" IN BANGKOK,THAILAND For everyone in , BimBi Italiani has reopened registration for the weekly group language courses for children in Imparando l'Italiano from September […]

฿610 – ฿8610

Asobiba Art Exhibition

XSPACE GALLERY 71 15 Pridi Banomyong 14 Alley, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana,, Bangkok, Thailand

“Asobiba” Group exhibition by Nagoya University of the Arts and the Department of Fine Arts at KMITL At Xspace Gallery, Bangkok. (Main Hall) SHOW PERIOD: September 7 – December 22, […]

Please Contact

ELC Family of International Schools Bangkok – After-School Activities

The City School - International School Bangkok 18 Sukhumvit 49/4 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok, Thailand

We’re excited to open our After-School Activities registration today for children at The City School. We have a wonderful array of activities, including the following new classes available this year: […]

Please Contact

Alliance Française de Bangkok – French Course

Alliance Française de Bangkok 179 Witthayu road, Khwaeng Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan, Bangkok,, Bangkok, Thailand

Great news for parents in Bangkok! Open the door to a world of linguistic and cultural discoveries for your children aged 3 to 11! Our next French course session begins […]

Please Contact
Get The Latest Updates

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

Get the latest kid and family-friendly activities and events in your inbox every Thursday! No spam, guaranteed.

More information

You May Also Like...

Group kids play on festive camp at night

Festive Winter Camp Guide

Holiday breaks are a time for students to step back and refresh from the first academic semester. While many families will use this an another opportunity to continue exploring Thailand,

Cool Science Experiments for Kids

When explaining science to kids a good way to start is describing it as the study of the world around us, scientists learn about their subjects by observing, describing, and

How To Encourage a Science Minded Kid 2

How To Encourage a Science Minded Kid

Have your kids ever expressed the desire to become an astronaut and explore Mars? Or perhaps it’s their dream to put on a white coat whilst their colleagues refer to

Teacher teach kids in the class at St. Andrews Dusit

The Importance of STEM & STEAM In Education

First let’s start with the definitions of STEM & STEAM. It stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. STEM is important because our world depends on it, it pervades every