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| Nur Lailatul Masruroh, S.Kep. Ns., M.N.S. dosen Ilmu Keperawatan Fakultas Ilmu Kesehatan UMM (Foto : Istimewa). |
Despite being used for years in culinary settings, the existence of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) still raises concerns among the public due to rumours about its potentially harmful health effects.
In response to these concerns, Nur Lailatul Masruroh explained that MSG is a sodium salt of glutamic acid, a type of amino acid naturally found in foods like tomatoes, cheese, and meat. The process to produce MSG typically involves extracting juice from sugar cane.
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"MSG is a sodium salt of glutamic acid, a natural component in many foods. However, some individuals may experience sensitivity reactions. This cannot be a basis for generalizing MSG as a harmful substance overall," said the lecturer known as Ila.
According to her, consuming MSG is not harmful as long as it's within the recommended dosage. Based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States, the safe daily intake is about 2 to 2.5 grams of MSG per day, equivalent to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon. However, it's important to note that this daily intake is a general guideline, and tolerance to MSG can vary among individuals.
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"Numerous scientific studies indicate that consuming MSG in reasonable amounts does not cause significant side effects in most people. However, some individuals may experience reactions such as headaches or muscle pain. These side effects are usually temporary and do not occur in everyone," she added.
Consuming a high amount of MSG is also susceptible to causing the "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome." Post-consumption symptoms may include headaches, sensations of heat or excessive sweating, and muscle or joint pain. However, it's essential to note that these reactions occur relatively rarely.
"So far, I have not found specific studies examining the benefits of MSG for health; most research focuses on the negative impacts of consuming excessive MSG over the normal dosage and the long term. However, regarding MSG's main effect as a flavour enhancer, it's clear that MSG is beneficial in helping to increase appetite because the taste of food becomes more delicious," she stated.
In conclusion, Ila advised that although MSG has a high melting point of 232 degrees Celsius, making it resistant to decomposition when heated, people should avoid overheating it. Excessive heating may potentially cause the breakdown of compounds containing toxins.
"Not only for MSG-containing foods, but also in general, repeated heating of food is not recommended for health. Apart from the damaged nutritional value, this activity also has the potential to change food compounds into toxins," she concluded. (dit/wil/fajr)
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