Biz Development
by Laurus Nobilis

2011
2010
2009
2008

The debates are taking place all around the world about use of Monosodium Glutamate, also known as flavor enhancer. Monosodium Glutamate is discovered by Kikunae Ikeda from Tokyo University in 1908. The intention of his research was to find the chemical component that replicates the taste of „umami“. The Monosodium Glutamate was patented in 1909 and it was exploited commercially from that point onwards. The MSG is in use for over 100 years so far. It gained the popularity due the food flavor enhancement abilities.

The Monosodium Glutamate ( MSG ) has been used massively by food industries to enhance food flavor and to increase the profits. The MSG can typically be found in fast food, canned food, instant food, etc. Even fruit is sometimes sprayed with MSG dilution. MSG was even used for treatment of infant food in 50-ties, but that practice was banned later on.

At the beginning of fifties of the last century, the studies were done on the MSG. The new born lab rats were exposed to doses of Monosodium Glutamate and the neurons in their retina were destroyed. Even some part of their brain were damaged ( hypothalamus ). MSG caused obesity and diabetes type II to rats. It seems that MSG is causing obesity even when the food intake is limited. How many times you have heard the expression of obese people that they are getting fat despite the fact that they do not eat much?

We are systematically exposed to deliberate creation of generations of people dependant on excessive food intake. The companies do not chose means when it comes to generation of continuous growth and massive profits. One of the most efficient ways of stimulating overeating is usage for flavor enhancers.

Maybe the time has come to think about what we eat. The modern food is based on ingredients like Monosodium Glutamate. Conceived usage of MSG grows from year to year. Sometimes the MSG is not even listed on the ingredient list, since it is hidden under a different name. Anyhow, in order to minimize intake of MSG, chose fresh and unprocessed food as much often instead of cans, fast food and instant food.