Tag Archives: MSG

Kraft Lies: Not 100% Parmesan

Recent concerns surrounding GMO, MSG, Aspartame, and other   potential  garbage in our food has had me looking a little more closely at food labels.

Today while shopping I picked up I container labeled Kraft 100% Parmesan Grated Cheese.

The label gives even more detail:  The label doesn’t just say parmesan, it says 100% parmesan.  That’s because we only use the finest ingredients, carefully crafted and aged for a sharp, distinctive taste that enhances your favorite dishes — a taste that’s 100 real, 100% parmesan.  Below is a scanned graphic of the actual label.

Kraft 100% Parmesan

Kraft is a brand well known for quality.  Or so I thought.  Let’s take a closer look at the ingredient list.  Rotated and enlarged for your convenience.

Ingredients:  parmesan cheese (milk, bacterial culture, salt, lipase, microbial enzyme, calcium chloride), cellulose powder, potassium sorbate.  May contain modified milk ingredients.  (A061l) contains:  milk.

  • Parmesan cheese contains milk, bacterial culture, and so on.  Looks good so far.
  • Cellulose powder is also known as food grade wood pulp.  Huh?  In at least three places the label reads, 100% Parmesan.
  • Potassium sorbate is a food preservative.  Whether it is healthy or not is a story for another blog post.
  • May contain modified milk ingredients.  This may be another way to label MSG.

The fact food grade wood pulp is found in this product means it is not 100% parmesan cheese as the label suggests.  Kraft Canada has a label that is just a little bit misleading, don’t you think?.

 

 

Hidden Sources of MSG

Recently I discovered I am sensitive to monosodium glutamate (MSG).  The discovery came as the result of doing some research on the artificial sweetener known as aspartame.  Aspartame and mononsodium glutamate (MSG) are both excitotoxins.  Excitotoxins are chemicals that trick our brain into thinking something tastes good.  These chemicals are ultimately poison.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is found in more foods than I would have imagined.  The part that bothers me most is that by law in Canada and the United States, food manufacturers do not have to directly reveal the presence of MSG on labeling.  Unlike aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG) does not have to be labeled as  clearly.

Food Additives that ALWAYS contain MSG

  • monosodium glutamate
  • hydrolyzed protein
  • plant protein extract
  • sodium caseinate
  • calcium caseinate
  • yeast extract
  • textured protein (including TVP)
  • autolyzed yeast
  • hydrolyzed oat flour
  • corn oil

Food Additives that FREQUENTLY contain MSG

  • malt extract
  • malt flavoring
  • bouillon
  • broth
  • stock
  • flavoring
  • natural flavors / flavoring
  • seasoning
  • spices

Food Additives that MAY contain MSG

  • carrageenan
  • enzymes
  • soy protein concentrate
  • soy protein isolate
  • whey protein concentrate

Today marks Day #7 without knowingly consuming MSG.  My symptoms, which were mainly diarrhea and and difficulties with focus, have been cleared up since Day #3.  I am planning a future post that contains a list of common grocery items that contain MSG.

Sources

Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills by Russell L. Blaylock