CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, June 9: Mono Sodium Glutamate or MSG, commonly known as Ajinomoto, has been banned by India’s neighbouring country Pakistan since 2018. Apart from this, many western countries such as the USA and Canada have also put a ban on the ‘taste enhancer’ due to the adverse health effects it has.
However, India is yet to put a ban on the substance as it is being used openly in many Chinese food stalls across the country. In Ranchi, majority of food stalls are using the ‘Chinese salt’ to improve the food’s taste.
In order to get the current status of MSG in India, lagatar24.com contacted the district food safety officer Subir Ranjan who gave vital information regarding the same.
“Monosodium Glutamate or Ajinomoto is not banned in India but its limitation has been prescribed by the Indian government. The thing to look upon is that MSG is mostly imported from China and whether the import rule is being followed or not that’s important,” he said.
He added that MSG is used as a taste enhancer by various food stalls and they have been ordered to use it in limitation.
“We have strictly ordered that MSG should be used in the prescribed limitation and if any food stall is found using it in excess then we will just cease it and take legal actions against them,” the district food safety officer added.
However, many small food joints in the city are unaware of the quantity that is to be used in their cuisines. Many restaurants use it in a high quantity to enhance the taste of the food.
“We have been using Ajinomoto for a long time and it improves the taste. If we cook without using it our customers don’t like it. It helps in our sales and also increases our customers,” said one of the Chinese food stall owners from Lalpur.
Another fast-food seller said that he has tried making the same food in his house without MSG and found it to be tasteless. Hence he has not stopped using it. He added that he uses it in a small quantity and will continue to do so.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has stated on their website that after doing research it was found that MSG has toxic effects on the reproductive system. Apart from it, the other side effects include CNS disorder, obesity, disruptions in adipose tissue physiology, hepatic damage, CRS and reproductive malfunctions.
Meanwhile, people continue to consume ever-increasing levels of MSG, oblivious to the potential effects. In order to assess the link between MSG and cardiovascular diseases, headache, and hypertension in human models, more research is needed, according to NCBI.
As an alternative to MSG, many food producers have developed premium aromatic seasonings, vegan demi-glace powders, lime seasonings, Italian seasoning, and cheese seasoning. These ingredients not only enhance the taste and flavour of food but also provide the umami that MSG is known for.
