MSG causes Chinese Restaurant Syndrome
| MSG causes Chinese Restaurant Syndrome | |
|---|---|
| UNSUPPORTED | |
| "Monosodium glutamate (MSG) in Chinese food causes headaches, palpitations, numbness and weakness, a condition called "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome."" | |
| Domain | Food, Nutrition & Wellness |
| Tactic | Pseudoscience / Junk Science Propaganda Technique |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | April 1968 |
| Origin | A letter by Dr. Robert Ho Man Kwok in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1968, followed by a flood of anecdotal reports and media coverage |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Food, Nutrition & Wellness | |
Chinese Restaurant Syndrome entered popular vocabulary after a 1968 letter to a medical journal described symptoms after eating at Chinese restaurants and speculated about causes, including MSG. Decades of double-blind studies have failed to show that MSG in normal amounts causes these symptoms consistently. The US Food and Drug Administration considers MSG generally recognized as safe.
The claim
Restaurants advertised "No MSG," and many people still report reactions.
What the evidence shows
- Controlled studies. When people who believe they are sensitive are given MSG or a placebo without knowing which, researchers have generally not found consistent reactions.
- Large doses. The FDA notes some people may have mild, short-lived symptoms after 3 grams or more of MSG without food, an amount far above a typical serving.
- Natural glutamate. Glutamate is abundant in tomatoes, cheese and other foods.
- Bias. Historians and food writers have noted that the scare singled out Chinese food, though MSG is used widely in Western processed foods.
Sources
- Robert Ho Man Kwok, "Chinese-Restaurant Syndrome," New England Journal of Medicine 278 (1968): 796.
- US Food and Drug Administration, "Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG)."