MSG = A STUDY IN SUPPRESSION OF INFORMATION

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The

Toxicity/Safety of Processed Free Glutamic Acid (Msg):

 

A STUDY IN SUPPRESSION OF INFORMATION

Adrienne Samuels

850 DeWitt Place, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

 

http://free.freespeech.org/transgenicos/transgenicos/cuidado/graos/soja/samuels.htm

 

Accountability in Research (1999) Vol 6, pp. 259-310.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

Every company interested in

promoting its product should attempt to convince its clients that its

product is worth buying. However, "selective" collection and reporting

of research data would be inappropriate. "Selective" collection and

reporting of research data, including suppression of information

contrary to that which is espoused by the industry in question, is the

subject of this paper. Using promotion of the flavor-enhancing

ingredient called monosodium glutamate, and its active component

(variously referred to as processed free glutamic acid or MSG) as a

case study, this paper presents the case against the safety of MSG and

looks at the work of the defenders of the safety of MSG. The structure

of the industry organization; an overview of their research;

suppression of information; dissemination of misinformation; dirty

tricks; and the special role of agencies of the United States

government will be considered.

KEY WORDS

accountability, deception,

glutamic acid, glutamate, monosodium glutamate, MSG, suppression of

information

CONTENTS

 

1. Introduction

 

2. The Case Against the Safety

of Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG) a) The chemical in

question: processed free glutamic acid

b) The first evidence of toxicity

c) Confirmation of toxicity

d) Personal involvement

3. Defenders of the Safety of MSG

 

a) Structure of their organization

- The International Glutamate Technical Committee (IGTC

 

- The Glutamate Association

b) Researchers

c) Agents

d) People and Organizations Influenced by

Glutamate-Industry Agents

e) An overview of glutamate industry research

- Animal research: 1970-1980

- Umami: the alleged fifth basic taste

- The Epidemiologic Study

- The Double-Blind Studies

f) Suppression of Information

g) Dissemination of misinformation

h) Dirty tricks

i) Agencies of the United States Government

- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

- The National Institutes of Health (NIH)

- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

4. Summary and Conclusions

A. Table 1

B. Appendices

C. References