I'm allergic to MSG. What foods here contain the most?

[dblaisde]

I've been eating most of my meals at a Thai "lots of pots" streetfood place for the last few months. I've also been suffering from feeling bloated, lack of energy, and slight nausea during the same period. I attributed these symptoms to other things, but last week I decided to lay off the local food and eat at the farang restaurants instead.

In a few days, I felt much better, and now it's been a week without any of the old complaints. I suspect the food. Yes, I know that there's a debate as to whether MSG is harmful. Are there other things in Thai streetfood I might be reacting to?

So, which are the foods to watch for? And how do say "no MSG" in Thai?

thanks in advance

[Pomthai]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

Edited July 21, 2014 by Pomthai

[Thai at Heart]

Falang food like KFC? Or Mcds ? Bolognese sauce, gravy sauces?

Rammed full of msg......largest amount of gluten is apparently parmesan cheese and miso soup. I am not convinced about msg allergies. Just don't put too much in your noodles.

[FBN]

MSG is a chemical compound as opposed to an organic one so no "allergy" really do develop but a large number of people have a sensitivity to it's effects. It is basically a nerve stimulant supposed to affect the taste buds (special nerve receptors). Symptoms are varied and not well documented or researched as it is not considered to be a "harmful" chemical.

[ezzra]

Could it be that you're allergic to the Idea of having MSG in your food? as repeated medical testing and trails

shoed that there is nothing wrong with MSG, unless you're a very special man...

[Bardeh]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

MSG in Thai is 'pom chu lot'.

So it would be 'mai sai pom chu lot kap'.

[AngelsLariat]

Edited July 21, 2014 by AngelsLariat

[Rorri]

Most Thai food will have MSG, the amount depends on the cook. MSG can be a poison to westerners, if taken over a long period. Be aware, that although banned in some countries, eg, Australia, it is still put in cans of Campbells soups sold in Thailand...Campbells has not replied to my email, at least 10 months ago, asking why, when I ask the question, was it removed only due to public pressure rather than for concerned for customers health...

[koo]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

MSG in Thai is 'pom chu lot'.

So it would be 'mai sai pom chu lot kap'.

Many locals call it "Ajinomoto" as it is the largest producer of MSG. The bags which the MSG comes in are ofter grey import, and have text only in Chinese/Korean/Japanese which Thais do not understand. The only readable text is the company name (in western letters), so it makes sense calling it Ajinomoto.

"Mai Ow Ajinomoto, Khap!"

Edited July 21, 2014 by koo

[soinowinbkk]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

MSG in Thai is 'pom chu lot'.

So it would be 'mai sai pom chu lot kap'.

That seems to be the best advice. I'm gong to learn those words!

I had problems a while back and the doctor said it sounded like an MSG reaction. Went home and lo and behold the mayonnaise I had been consuming (perhaps too much of ... I am US southern, after all) had across the bottom of the package, quite big: "Contains MSG". Switched brands, carefully reviewing the contents, and no more of those particular problems.

What you describe, however, seems to be somethings else. Perhaps related to the street food (I don't have those problems and been eating it for 13+ years) but more likely your water (type you're drinking) or your water intake -- not drinking enough plain water -- dehydration is quick and brutal. Coffee and tea, and of course alcohol and soft drinks, depletes the body of needed water rapidly. Easier to forget when the weather is cooler and lots of rain.

Edited July 21, 2014 by soinowinbkk

[Evolare]

Yes FDA sponsored research claims MSG is not dangerous. Howevery some people can have adverse effects to it, same as with aspartame. If you have an history of problem with the kidneys and the liver it is a good idea to keep those out of your diet as well as you can.

Say: Mai Sai pong shue rot! When you order your food. Which mean no MSG in the food you just ordered

[markeewan]

I also have a reaction to something in some Thai foods. Two times I had the problem after eating in food halls. At first I thought it was MSG that was giving me the terrible headache but I have now found that it is not MSG. As we have started to cook more at home it is not so much a problem now.

The only time I had a similar problem in Australia was from eating an excess of Liqorice Allsorts, so I think my reaction could be related to some food colouring.

Hope you can find what causes your problem, even then it is not easy to avoid as it gets added to lots of foods. If it is not added as the dry powder to your order it will be already in the soups and liquids.

[Sydebolle]

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Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

MSG in Thai is 'pom chu lot'.

So it would be 'mai sai pom chu lot kap'.

The correct way is "Mai sai Pong Chu Rot"; in Thai ไม่สามารถใช้ผงชูรส (print it out and show the waiter/ess upon ordering).

[BudRight]

You are not allergic to MSG. Nobody is.

Edited July 21, 2014 by BudRight

[Micbozy]

Most wok and fried food contain MSG in Thailand, soup noodles too.

[maxjay]

This is what do. I had a Thai person write this down on a small card, I keep in my wallet. I show the card to the people at restaurants, and the cooks:

From Google Translate:

English: "Please. I do not want MSG added to my food. Thank you."

Thai: "กรุณา ฉันไม่ต้องการผงชูรสในอาหารของฉัน ขอบคุณ"

Don't rely on Thai's understanding on what you are saying. I've found it best to show them in Thai script.

FYI. MSG is in most Thai foods.

I don't think I'm allergic to it, but. It gives me a headache when I eat foods that contain it.

[Refresh]

Get hold of some food grade Diatomatic earth (check it out on youtube) - it should take the MSG build up out of your system and any build up of heavy metals, helpful if you eat a lot of fish. Use 5g (a dessert spoon full) in a glass of water and down it - energy will be back in about 48 hours! (must be the white food grade not the red swimming pool filter grade)

[DGS1244]

You probably are not allergic to MSG just taking too much. Mono-sodium when heated in cooking turns to ordinary common salt and glutamate can be found naturally in Avocados, Mangos etc. If you eat a lot of fruit in Thailand you take MSG every time. It is a natural salt and does no harm in limited amounts.

[laobali]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

You can say it any way you like, but they'll just smile and nod and do nothing. The MSG, also known as KerNor (Knorr seasoning) will be in there anyway. No escape really.

Edited July 21, 2014 by laobali

[attrayant]

Get hold of some food grade Diatomatic earth (check it out on youtube) - it should take the MSG build up out of your system and any build up of heavy metals, helpful if you eat a lot of fish. Use 5g (a dessert spoon full) in a glass of water and down it - energy will be back in about 48 hours! (must be the white food grade not the red swimming pool filter grade)

Diatomaceous earth is just silica, which is inert, insoluble and indigestible. You might as well eat a spoonful of sand.

MSG doesn't "build up", it either gets metabolized or is put to work as a catalyst. It often develops naturally as a byproduct of fermentation, so you'll get it from fish sauce and worcestershire sauce. It's ubiquitous; you'll most likely get it from many commercially prepared foods. Even if the restaurant follows a customer's instructions not to add any during the cooking process, it'll most likely be present in the sauces, flavorings and other ingredients that they use.

[thatguy]

MSG is also disguised on labels as " hydrolyzed vegetable protein ", among other things. I also read, in one of the drug trade magazines, that MSG may be implicated in a type of liver damage.

http://vegetarian.lovetoknow.com/Hydrolyzed_Vegetable_Protein

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724042/

[fxe1200]

You are not allergic to MSG. Nobody is.

Total BS, there are a lot of folks, who are allergic I myself, when consuming food, which is prepared with MSG, in the evening, I cannot sleep and have to wait four to five hours until I then can sleep. Germans also use the word "Geschmacksverstaerker", or taste enhancer . Actually, if someone needs to put MSG in the food, to make it "tasty", should better switch the job or learn cooking.

[fxe1200]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

You can say it any way you like, but they'll just smile and nod and do nothing. The MSG, also known as KerNor (Knorr seasoning) will be in there anyway. No escape really.

Today you can buy stock cubes without MSG made by Knorr (green package). Thailands food labelling system is OK for me, as it always points out the amount of MSG, sugar and other ingredients.

[thaibook]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

MSG in Thai is 'pom chu lot'.

So it would be 'mai sai pom chu lot kap'.

Many locals call it "Ajinomoto" as it is the largest producer of MSG. The bags which the MSG comes in are ofter grey import, and have text only in Chinese/Korean/Japanese which Thais do not understand. The only readable text is the company name (in western letters), so it makes sense calling it Ajinomoto.

"Mai Ow Ajinomoto, Khap!"

Ajinomoto was the first company to make synthetic msg. They have kept their market leadership ever since. It is also sold in bags up to 20kg in Asian cash and carrys in Europe.

I always say kor mai ai porn chu rot krap. I am not sure all vendors take notice as some seem to have pre-mixed various ingredients.

Sorry, but this does not address OP's questions.

[sustento]

MSG is also disguised on labels as " hydrolyzed vegetable protein ", among other things. I also read, in one of the drug trade magazines, that MSG may be implicated in a type of liver damage.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724042/

That was a trial on mice which had already been artificially induced to have liver disease before they were given MSG.

[attrayant]

You are not allergic to MSG. Nobody is.

Total BS, there are a lot of folks, who are allergic

"Allergic" is the the correct term. That may have been what Bud was referring to. The LD50 of MSG is five times greater than that of common table salt, meaning that salt is more lethal than MSG. Now I know we're not talking about lethality in this thread, but LD50 is a useful measuring stick when talking about the adverse affects of food additives that are generally recognized as safe.

[kingstonkid]

OP personally i would suggest going to a hospital and getting checked out. then ask to speak to a nutirionist or ask your Doctor.

this has solves a lot o my issues with food and makes sure that i am eating correctly.

Unless you are eating at Subway all the time or eating salads it is going to be hard to kow.

Check with a doctor no offense to anyone here but i see very few MD credentials in these posts.

[bkkjames]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

You can say it any way you like, but they'll just smile and nod and do nothing. The MSG, also known as KerNor (Knorr seasoning) will be in there anyway. No escape really.

Today you can buy stock cubes without MSG made by Knorr (green package). Thailands food labelling system is OK for me, as it always points out the amount of MSG, sugar and other ingredients.

Note you need to find the ones with small Thai writing that specifically say this.. Other green ones are the same as the Yellow

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[fxe1200]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

You can say it any way you like, but they'll just smile and nod and do nothing. The MSG, also known as KerNor (Knorr seasoning) will be in there anyway. No escape really.

Today you can buy stock cubes without MSG made by Knorr (green package). Thailands food labelling system is OK for me, as it always points out the amount of MSG, sugar and other ingredients.

Note you need to find the ones with small Thai writing that specifically say this.. Other green ones are the same as the Yellow

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

But it says, if I may say so: "Make food aroi, not have pomtschurot" right across the package, you can't miss it.

[laobali]

Mai Ow Emm Esss Geee Khap

You can say it any way you like, but they'll just smile and nod and do nothing. The MSG, also known as KerNor (Knorr seasoning) will be in there anyway. No escape really.

Today you can buy stock cubes without MSG made by Knorr (green package). Thailands food labelling system is OK for me, as it always points out the amount of MSG, sugar and other ingredients.

Note you need to find the ones with small Thai writing that specifically say this.. Other green ones are the same as the Yellow

Sent from my LG-P970 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If you buy, prepare and eat only your own ingredients there's no problem; just at food stalls and even restaurants where you have no control or way of knowing how much MSG (or anything else) goes into the food.