Topic: Msg

The term umami has seen a surge in popular usage since the early 2000s, largely driven by professional chefs on television cooking programs. An Ngram search indicates the word was virtually non-existent in common English parlance prior to this period. While often described as a savory or meaty taste, the term is frequently used as a modern euphemism for the flavor profile associated with monosodium glutamate (MSG).

MSG Entertainment is under fire for using facial recognition technology to identify and bar lawyers from firms involved in litigation against the company. New York Attorney General Letitia James has challenged the practice, while MSG defends it as a right of a private venue. The hosts debate the ethical implications of using surveillance technology for corporate retaliation.

Kayleigh McEnany defended the President's Rose Garden speech against allegations of Hatch Act violations, noting that the President and Vice President are legally exempt from the act. The discussion also touched on the controversy surrounding Goya products, with a brief tangent regarding the presence of MSG in processed foods and its effects on health.

The CDC has reportedly added Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) to the FluMist nasal spray vaccine. The hosts discuss the "mouthfeel" properties of MSG and its potential to cause headaches. They also critique a study funded by Pfizer that claims the smoking-cessation drug Chantix does not cause psychiatric events, noting the lead researcher was an expert witness for the company.

Senomyx, a biotechnology company, has received FDA and EU approval for flavor enhancers that trick the brain into perceiving sweetness or saltiness. These ingredients utilize the HEK-293 cell line, which originated from the kidney of an aborted human embryo in 1972. Major food corporations, including PepsiCo, have been linked to the use of Senomyx technology to reduce sugar content in their products.

A discussion on government efforts to reduce dietary sodium leads to a look at various sodium compounds, including MSG and sodium hydroxide. Ohio is reportedly switching its lethal injection drug to one typically used for animal euthanasia due to a shortage of the standard chemical.

The conversation shifts to food additives, specifically Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and its alleged links to headaches and autism. The hosts examine the use of aspartame and hydrolyzed vegetable protein as substitutes in processed foods, noting that many of these ingredients are imported from China. They argue that subsidized food industries make unhealthy, additive-laden meals cheaper than fresh produce.