Popeyes also uses MSG in its seasoned chicken. Both the mild and spicy versions list MSG among their ingredients. Additionally, other items such as their Cajun fries and mashed potatoes often include ...

This discovery led to the commercial production of MSG as a flavor enhancer, designed to amplify the umami or savory taste in foods. Since then, it has become a staple ingredient in cuisines ...

MSG got a bad reputation in the 1960s when Dr. Robert Ho Man Kwok, a Chinese-American doctor, wrote a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine after eating Chinese food and getting sick.

National health organizations and experts agree that MSG is safe to consume as part of a balanced diet. The FDA categorizes MSG to be “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS.

“It’s a naturally-occurring flavor compound that imparts umami, or savory, flavor.” Essentially, MSG is naturally found in a variety of unadulterated food items. Yep, naturally.

Glutamate is present in foods like ham and some cheeses, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says glutamate is also naturally occurring in humans. How did MSG get a bad rap?