It's hard to believe that something as tiny as a three-letter acronym could scare diners away from their dinner, but for decades, restaurant patrons have fled for fear of MSG, the abbreviation for the food additive and flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate.
The negative perception has been so bad that Merriam-Webster even has an entry for "Chinese restaurant syndrome," or CRS, which is defined as a group of symptoms caused by eating MSG. Well, stick a fork in those fears, because the bias is behind us -- or it soon will be, it appears. Thanks largely to an internet campaign known as "Redefine CRS," the widespread vilification of MSG is being taken off the table.
The campaign, launched by the Japanese food company Ajinomoto, has the backing of many medical professionals, restaurateurs, and noted Asian-Americans, who are focused on a more thorough and honest evaluation of MSG.
"To this day, the myth around MSG is ingrained in America's consciousness, with Asian food and culture still receiving unfair blame," Ajinomoto states on its website. "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome isn't just scientifically false — it's xenophobic."
The campaign explains that MSG is found in many foods, especially processed items, and no investigation has found a link between MSG and any illness. Even Merriam-Webster has taken notice, saying it would review its printed definition and "revise accordingly." As of this year, the dictionary contains a note that reads, in part: "Chinese restaurant syndrome has been criticized as misleading and potentially offensive. It has been replaced in medical literature by MSG symptom complex."
Dig into some Chinese food facts:
- Tradition holds that Chinese cooking should include a balance of the five key flavors: spiciness, sweetness, sourness, saltiness, and bitterness.
- Rice is a traditional staple of southern Chinese cuisine, while noodles are eaten far more widely in northern China, where wheat has historically been cultivated.
- Although its true origins are debated, many believe that chop suey was invented in America by Chinese immigrants.