An official statement from Nestlé India has claimed that there is no scientific evidence of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) having a detrimental effect on one’s health. It further added that MSG need not have been added artificially to test positive, as glutamate is a natural component of all food protein, both from animal and vegetable origin. Quoting health expert Dr. Seema Singh, Chief Clinical Nutritionist at Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, the statement said that products with MSG have been in the market for many years, but no long-term health effects have been reported till date.
Quoting Dr Singh, it said, “Food Standards Australia New Zealand reviewed the safety of MSG in 2003, concluding ‘there is no convincing evidence that MSG is a significant factor in causing systemic reactions resulting in severe illness or mortality’. Even so, a very small number of people who are sensitive to a range of foods, especially those with asthma, may be sensitive to glutamate.” “Consumption of MSG is not harmful as long as it is used in moderation. US Food and Drug Administration considers the addition of MSG to foods to be generally recognised as safe,” it added quoting Dr. Singh.