What’s the deal with MSG?
Also known as monosodium glutamate, flavor-enhancing MSG often gets a bad rap. Used across a variety of cultures and cuisines, the chemical compound is simply the sodium salt of glutamic acid, which is a naturally occurring amino acid. In other words, MSG appears naturally in a lot of foods and adds a wonderful umami boost. So next time you hear someone say, “I avoid MSG,” tell them they might be missing out.