Getting to Know Monosodium Glutamate Associated with Someone's Intelligence

Dream - MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) or commonly known as MSG, is one of the flavor enhancers for all dishes made from sodium salt and glutamic acid.

Everyone seems to know what MSG is, and has also tasted the deliciousness of dishes that use MSG.

Glutamic acid in MSG can provide a different savory taste from other food flavorings.  

“MSG has a taste, namely umami taste which is the fifth basic taste, besides salty, sour, sweet, and bitter, because MSG has its own receptors on the surface of the tongue and is safe to consume,” said Prof. Dr. Dede Robiatul Adawiyah, Lecturer of Food Technology at Bogor Agricultural University at a media workshop entitled “Love Using MSG, Why Not?”, Monday, April 17, 2023.

History of MSG

Based on its history, MSG was first discovered in Japan in 1908 by a professor named Kikunae Ikeda.

Kikunae Ikeda extracted and crystallized glutamate from seaweed broth to make MSG granules.

In its development, many parties have accused MSG of causing various serious diseases such as triggering overweight (obesity), cancer, and being called the cause of stupidity.

Hoaxes About MSG

Regarding these allegations, Prof. Dede denies the long-standing misconception. Calling it misinformation, he said that MSG or MSG MSG has a reference value for daily intake (ADI) as not specified. This shows that MSG is a safe ingredient. 

In addition, the sodium (Na) content in MSG is 12 percent less than table salt, which has a content of up to 39 percent.

"This means that the Na content in MSG is less than table salt, so the risk of hypertension due to excessive sodium consumption is higher in table salt,” explained Prof. Dede.

Educating the Public

To provide accurate information about MSG and coinciding with the moment of Ramadan, P2MI held a gathering inviting several media colleagues through a media workshop entitled “Love Using MSG, Why Not?” together with PT Ajinomoto Indonesia, PT Ajinex International, PT Sasa Inti, and PT Daesang Ingredients Indonesia.

Doddy S. Widodo, Chairman of the Association of Monosodium Glutamate and Glutamate Acid Factories Indonesia (P2MI), which is an organization formed by MSG companies, believes that there are already several food products claiming not to use additional MSG. Instead, the flavor enhancers are obtained from ingredients containing mushrooms, yeast, and so on.

However, scientifically, continued Dede, these food products actually contain glutamic acid which is also contained in MSG. "Even these food products are sold at a higher price than MSG,” he said.