At any rate, the e-mail talks about a book written by a University of Waterloo research assistant in Ontario, Canada, called “The Slow Poisoning of America.” The lead author is John Erb, who was assisted by his wife, Michelle.

 

I’m not sure why John Erb didn’t include Canada in the book title, but the widely circulated e-mail begins with Erb’s discovery that a food additive known as monosodium glutamate, or MSG, was injected into laboratory mice and rats to make them obese so that they could be used in diet and diabetes studies. MSG apparently triples the amount of insulin in the pancreas, causing the rodents to fatten up like blimps.

 

There’s no doubt in my mind that MSG is a horrible additive that food manufacturers routinely add to just about every processed food, colorful candy, and diet drink ever invented. You can find MSG in deli meats, canned soups, canned gravy, flavored potato chips and cheese puffs, hamburger meals, dipping sauces, parmesan cheese, bouillon cubes, frozen prepared meals, and salad dressing, especially the “low fat” versions. The reason why food manufacturers add MSG to foods is simple: it’s a cheap way to enhance flavor.

 

MSG is not a preservative or a vitamin but is added to food for its “addictive effect” on the human body, says John Erb. Food manufacturers love MSG because it makes people eat more. Years ago, a famous potato chip commercial boasted, “Betcha you can’t eat just one!” They were right—and it’s no wonder why this nation is overweight.

 

What causes my teeth to grind is how food manufacturers are able to “hide” MSG in their foods. Instead of listing “monosodium glutamate,” they’re allowed to list “natural flavors” or “autolyzed yeast extract” or “hydrolyzed pea protein” or “carrageenan” that contain or created processed free glutamic acid (MSG) during its manufacture.

 

I’ve written about the dangers of MSG in my books because it is an environmental toxin. Monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, artificial flavorings, and artificial sweeteners like aspartame are examples of substances that overstimulate neurons to the point of cell damage and eventually, cell death. That’s why I keep talking up an organic diet of range-fed, pasture-fed meat and wild-caught fish as well as organic produce grown without the use of herbicides and fungicides.

 

You’re always going to be better off eating fresh, whole foods rather than processed meats, meals, and frozen foods that contain troublesome additives like MSG. And be leery of restaurant meals. It’s not a bad idea to ask if MSG is added to their entrees. You might not get a straight answer, but if enough of the public keeps asking about additives in the foods, we might see some changes in the kitchen.