Excessive Monosodium Glutamate Bad for Health

　　Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Valine, when heated it turns into pyroglutamic acid, which is a carcinogen. Consuming more than 10 grams of MSG can affect reproductive cells (sperm, eggs), affecting their chromosomes;If pregnant women consume excessive amounts of MSG, especially over 10 grams, it may cause various fetal malformations such as cleft lip, congenital heart disease, underdeveloped brain, and low IQ.

Many consumers believe that MSG is a chemical compound with no nutritional value and can be harmful to health if consumed frequently.Chicken Essence differs from MSG in that it uses chicken meat as the main ingredient, not only nutritious but also safe. Thus, we often see people avoid MSG with caution while freely adding chicken essence when cooking. In fact, there is little difference between chicken essence and MSG.

Chicken essence contains 40% MSG.

Although most chicken essence packaging claims "Made from premium chicken" or "Truly made from premium chicken meat," it is not as we imagine, primarily consisting of real chicken, chicken bones, or concentrated extracts thereof. Its main components are actually MSG (monosodium glutamate) and salt. MSG accounts for about 40% of its total content, with other ingredients including sugar, chicken or chicken bone powder, aromatic spices, inosine monophosphate, guanosine monophosphate, chicken flavoring, starch, etc., all mixed together.

The strong umami flavor of chicken essence mainly stems from MSG. In addition, inosine and guanosine are enhancers that also have flavoring effects. When combined with glutamic acid sodium, they make the chicken essence's umami taste milder, more rounded, and richer in aroma. The "chicken" flavor in chicken essence mainly comes from chicken meat and chicken bone powder, extracted from fresh chicken and bones. The use of chicken flavoring can also intensify the "chicken" flavor;Starch is used to make chicken essence into granules or powder form.

Nutritional content varies

Which one, MSG or chicken essence, has higher nutritional value?

MSG is mainly produced by fermenting rice or corn and other grains or molasses using microbial fermentation methods. Its main component is monosodium glutamate (MSG), an amino acid that is also a key constituent of protein. Chicken essence has more comprehensive nutritional content due to its complex ingredients. In addition to MSG, it contains various vitamins and minerals.

However, even though chicken essence has more nutrition, it remains just a seasoning and cannot be compared to actual chicken meat.

Moreover, according to the Guangdong Consumer Committee's investigation, different brands of chicken essence have varying protein contents, mainly due to differences in their chicken powder or chicken bone content. Safety is comparable to MSG

Many people avoid MSG because they fear it may produce certain carcinogenic substances when heated.

However, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization food additives experts believe that under normal circumstances, MSG is safe to consume; just do not heat it above 120℃, as monosodium glutamate will lose water at this temperature, forming pyroglutamic acid, which can be carcinogenic. Since chicken essence contains a certain amount of monosodium glutamate, its safety is similar to that of MSG. The same caution should be taken against prolonged high-temperature heating. Additionally, since chicken essence has about 10% salt content, the salt usage when cooking or making soup with it should be reduced.

Chicken essence also contains nucleotides, and their metabolites are uric acid; therefore, gout patients should eat less. Chicken essence contains nucleotides, and the metabolic products of nucleotides are uric acid; therefore, gout patients should eat less.