What is MSG? | Earth Science

MSG is a controversial subject but what actually is it? Greg Foot explains.

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Welcome to BBC Earth Science! Here we answer all your curious questions about science in the world around you (and further afield too). If there's a question you have that we haven't yet answered let us know in the comments on any of our videos and it could be answered by one of our Earth Science experts.

[WilliamTaylorII]

MSG actually stands for Makes Stuff Good.

[akrime]

If ur sad put msg on it
- uncle Roger

[LyghtWaves]

I can almost always detect MSG right away. There's no specific flavor, it really just enhances whatever it's added to. It always makes you want more.

[chucklebris]

That beaker in the background is definitely a bong.

[dustinm]

I was chewing on some cheetos while watching this so I decided to check the ingredients just because I was curious
I didn't see "MSG" so I took some closer look and saw "monosodium glutamate" in the ingredients so it looks like I am eating msg right now

[Duspende]

I bought a one pound bag of MSG on a trip to Holland. Best decision of my entire life.

[GenuinelyJake]

I have been using MSG since I read about it in college (I was a culinary arts major). It is kind of like sriracha- it makes everything taste better. No adverse effects so far.

[deanlynch]

I've started steaming my vegetables with msg . Just a couple pinches and it enhances the flavours so much! long term pro/con: adding a little msg and eating more vegetables wins

[CorneliusSneedley]

I think the fact that breast milk is loaded with it pretty much says it all.

[GenJotsu]

Always good to be skeptical with all information. But if what ur saying is true, then this "No MSG" trend may be the same thing as the "Gluten Free" trend, with it only affecting rare Gluten sensitive people. The Nocebo effect is real, smh

[LCBrink]

I would like to thank you for the source links and putting them in the video and description. I hope more youtube channels follow your example.

[FerPP]

Here in Peru we use MSG in a lot of local recipes. Most notably in cebiche. It's used to cut the acid of our lemon, which is actually a very sour lime. Otherwise, sliced fish just keeps "cooking" in the lime juice. In fact, Peru is place for one of the oldest Ajinomoto factories outside Japan, and they are planning on building a second one.

[BryanSalesDP]

MSG is a part of our daily household as early as I can remember. My grandparents died in their 90s.

[Kyoruka]

Did you just say that I'm a controversial topic?

[davidm.johnston]

THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS!!!
I always felt so bad for eating stuff that contains MSG because I thought it would harm me (I really thought it caused cancer) and now I know that's a hoax. Thanks!

[charh]

I was skeptical about a claim made, then wondered why there was a number in the bottom left.
I'm impressed by this level of source citation. So much better than other quick science channels.

[matthewcrozier]

This bloke must direct traffic for his second job. Loves to use hand signals

[MSIk]

Wow, I didn't know any of this and just thought msg was 'bad'. Interesting video

[Br]

My bong receptors were tingling due to images in your background

[MrRishik]

Food wars (shoukugeki no soma)fans know this stuff