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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

 

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.

Keywords: accountability, deception, glutamic acid,

glutamate,

monosodium glutamate, MSG, suppression of information

 

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

Contents

 

Introduction

 

The Case Against the Safety of Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG)

 

Defenders of the Safety of MSG

 

Summary and Conclusions

 

Table 1

 

Appendices

 

References

Introduction

Some scientists carry out well-designed and properly executed

research;

but when data do not come out as "needed," the numbers are changed.

Others

don't conduct studies at all; but submit fabricated details and results

of their choosing to peers for publication. When exposed, they may be

punished

with fines and imprisonment, and may be noted by the press. In

addition,

those who use money of the United States government are subject to

investigation

by the U.S. Office of Research Integrity.

 

Researchers who deceive by falsifying data seem to be few, even if

growing

in number; (Slind-Flor, 1993) and if suspected of devious practices,

can

be fairly easily challenged. There seem to be others, however, who use

more subtle methods to influence public opinion--with great success.

Although

more difficult to execute than simple fabrication of data, any question

of propriety can be passed off as an error of judgement or an honest

mistake;

and penalties for getting caught are non-existent or less severe.

 

This paper will describe how easily truth can be hidden; and how

seemingly

isolated incidents actually can be badly flawed research, direct

suppression

of information, and dissemination of biased information orchestrated by

one group or industry.

 

Using the safety/toxicity of MSG as the subject, I will demonstrate

how the glutamate industry has selectively collected and reported

research

data in a way that presents glutamate in a favorable fashion. In the

following,

the case against the safety of processed free glutamic acid (MSG) will

be presented first, with particular attention given to the nature of

the

chemical whose safety/toxicity is being disputed; the first evidence of

its toxicity; confirmation of toxicity; and my personal involvement.

The

second section will focus on the defenders of the safety of MSG: 1) the

structure of their organization -- the International Glutamate

Technical

Committee (IGTC); The Glutamate Association; researchers; agents;

people

and organizations influenced by them; 2) an overview of their research

-- animal research; umami; the epidemiologic study; and double-blind

studies;

3) suppression of information; 4) dissemination of misinformation; 5)

dirty

tricks; and 6) the special role of agencies of the United States

government.

 

 

 

 

 

The Case Against the Safety of Processed Free

Glutamic

Acid (MSG)