The Dumb Laowai

I’ve never really thought much about MSG until lately. Other than a couple

of junk-food fueled college road trips that made my tongue feel like

raw hamburger, there was never really a reason to. I probably still wouldn’t

give it much consideration if it weren’t being brought to my attention on an

almost daily basis lately.

As many have pointed out, in China they don’t call it Chinese food; it’s just food.

One can easily forget that MSG is almost a staple simply because no one would ever

put a sign proclaiming “No MSG” outside their door as many do in the US. It’s out

of sight and out of mind. Until lately, that is.

Just recently I started seeing 15 second commercials on late night Philline

television: someone posing as a scientist chatting with a host about the healthful

benefits of glutamate. They mention that MSG is the same as glutamate found in

tomatoes and other natural foods and finish by claiming that glutamate is “fuel for

the intestines.” It turns out that the faux public service announcement is sponsored

by the good folks at glutamate.org.au, so you can guess how scientifically reliable it is.

I was still trying to come to terms with such blatantly false advertising when I

found myself half-watching several cooking shows with LD (little dictator: the one

who takes it upon herself to make sure that my life is never simple or boring.) Seeing

someone add a white granular substance to a dish would normally make me think of

salt or sugar, so it was only when I saw them add two or three such ingredients that

I began to pay attention. Other than a bread-like dish, every single recipe

specifically called for MSG as an ingredient!

I hesitantly asked LD about the state of our MSG supply and she firmly said that she

does not like to use it. She them produced a small packet that the landlord had left

at the back of a cupboard two years earlier and threw it in the trash. I think I’ll

be eating at home much more often. I just worry about the state of my under-fueled

intestines.