Does Burger King contain MSG? (2023)

Does Burger King put MSG in their food?

With it, the chain is announcing that more than 90 percent of food ingredients at Burger King are now free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, and that 100 percent of ingredients are free of MSG and high-fructose corn syrup.

Processed meats

Processed meats like hot dogs, lunch meats, beef jerky, sausages, smoked meats, pepperoni, and meat snack sticks can contain MSG (18). Aside from being used to enhance taste, MSG is added to meat products like sausage to reduce the sodium content without changing the flavor ( 19 ).

The new chicken sandwiches at McDonald's, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A all contain the MSG flavor enhancement chemical. Experts say MSG can enhance the so-called umami flavor of a food. The ingredient is found in everything from Chinese food and pizza to prepackaged sandwiches and table sauces.

It also has an equally familiar-sounding ingredient: monosodium glutamate, or MSG. McDonald's doesn't currently use MSG in the other items that compose its regular, nationally available menu—but both Chick-fil-A and Popeyes list it as an ingredient in their own chicken sandwiches and chicken filets.

How can I tell if a food has MSG in it? Food manufacturers must declare when MSG is added, either by name or by its food additive code number 621, in the ingredient list on the label of most packaged foods. For example, MSG could be identified as: 'Flavour enhancer (MSG)', or.

BATTERED WITH: Water, Bleached Wheat Flour, Corn Starch, Modified Wheat Starch, Maltodextrin, Potato Starch, Modified Corn Starch, Methylcellulose, Mono and Diglycerides, Leavening (Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), PREDUSTED WITH: Bleached Wheat Flour, Modified Corn Starch, Dextrose, Monosodium Glutamate ...

Approximately one-half teaspoon of MSG is an effective amount to enhance the flavor of a pound of meat or four-to-six servings of vegetables, casseroles or soup. As with all flavorings and spices, taste levels may vary from individual to individual.

MSG-induced symptoms are typically not severe and subside on their own entirely within 72 hours. 1 However, if your symptoms do not appear to resolve or continue worsening after 48 hours, speak to your healthcare provider, as it may be something more serious.

An excessive consumption of MSG can cause a "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome" and gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers. Therefore, the maximum dose of MSG should be reconsidered taking into account its influence on the secretory capacity of the stomach.

How do you avoid MSG?

To avoid MSG, try to eat a fresh, natural diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs since processed foods and prepackaged seasonings contain a lot of MSG. You should also watch out for non-food products that have MSG in them, like certain cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, and conditioners.

Very few people know what all 11 herbs and spices are, but MSG is definitely one of them. Not only is there MSG in all the different varieties of KFC fried (and grilled) chicken, it's also in the gravy, chicken pot pies, potato wedges, and even the green beans.

Pizza Hut uses MSG in their dough. How much MSG do you think is in each 1kg of flour? Yes, the above ingredients are a form of MSG - basically, anything hydrolyzed or hydrolised contains MSG.

MSG became well-known for its widespread use in Chinese dishes and other fast food meals, including fried chicken from fast food restaurants.

This claim means that the manufacturer has not added MSG into the food. It is important to remember that there may be naturally occurring glutamates in the food even if it has a “no added MSG” claim. Read more about our product labelling.

Mild symptoms usually don't require treatment. Taking over-the-counter (OCT) pain relievers may ease your headache. Drinking several glasses of water may help flush the MSG out of your system and shorten the duration of your symptoms.

MSG can go by these and many other synonymous names as well, including monosodium salt, monohydrate, monosodium glutamate, monosodium glutamate monohydrate, monosodium L-glutamate monohydrate, MSG monohydrate, sodium glutamate monohydrate, UNII-W81N5U6R6U, L-Glutamic acid, monosodium salt, and monohydrate.

Effect on brain health

For starters, it acts as a neurotransmitter — a chemical substance that stimulates nerve cells to transmit signals ( 1 , 2 ). Some studies claim that MSG can lead to brain toxicity by causing excessive glutamate levels in the brain to overstimulate nerve cells, resulting in cell death ( 2 , 7 ).

Dive Brief:

The packaging lists the Whopper ingredients as “100% flame-grilled beef, tomatoes, lettuce, mayo, ketchup, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun,” and also says the burger doesn't have any artificial ingredients, monosodium glutamate (MSG) or high-fructose corn syrup.

While Wendy's chicken has always been MSG free, Wendy's also removed artificial flavors, preservatives and colors from artificial sources. Wendy's created one of the industry's first Animal Welfare Advisory Councils in 2001 to review and strengthen animal care standards by suppliers.

What are Burger King's fries made out of?

Ingredients in Burger King Fries

Potatoes, Soybean Oil or Canola and Palm Oil, Modified Potato Starch, Rice Flour, Potato Dextrin, Salt, Leavening (Disodium Dihydrogen Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Dextrose, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate added to preserve natural color.

MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. Glutamic acid is an amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein. It is found in virtually all food and, in abundance, in food that is high in protein, including meat, poultry, cheeses, and fish.

Although it was considered a toxic ingredient during the 1960s, current evidence has dispelled that myth, indicating that MSG is safe when consumed in moderate amounts. Still, you shouldn't eat excessively large doses or consume it if you experience adverse reactions.

In upscale restaurants, whether by tradition or by inclination, chefs are unlikely to use monosodium glutamate. “We don't need to use Ajinomoto because we can get the ingredients that have natural umami: shiitake mushrooms, egg yolks, shellfish, masago,” said Sotohiro Kosugi, the chef of Soto in New York.

It's a big part of protein-rich foods like meat, eggs and cheese, but is also found in fruits and vegetables. And, it is what's responsible for giving foods the umami (savory) flavor that makes them taste delicious.

Here's the good news: MSG contains two-thirds less the amount of sodium compared to table salt, so if you're looking to lower your sodium intake, reaching for MSG to flavor your food can help you eat less sodium.

Results: MSG intake was associated with a significant increase in SBP and DBP. A strong sex interaction was observed in relation to SBP change. Women with high MSG intake were more likely to have increased SBP and DBP. Total glutamate intake was also positively associated with an increase in SBP.

The nutritionist suggests to keep the intake of MSG to 0.55gm per day and to not exceed that limit.

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a common flavor enhancer found in numerous foods. High levels of MSG, food colors, and other additives can affect young children, and have been associated with hyperactivity, sleep disorders, and even autism.

However, MSG occurs naturally in ingredients such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed yeast, yeast extract, soy extracts, and protein isolate, as well as in tomatoes and cheeses.

Does MSG cause joint pain?

Chinese food is a particular concern because it often contains monosodium glutamate (MSG), which can trigger two separate inflammatory pathways making it a big stressor for arthritis symptoms.

MSG has been linked with obesity, metabolic disorders, Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, neurotoxic effects and detrimental effects on the reproductive organs.

MSG – Asian foods, particularly those using soy sauce, often contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which can trigger inflammation. It's also common in some fast foods, canned soups and salad dressings.

The bottom line is there is no evidence that MSG is harmful to the body. As long as you cook food thoroughly and prepare it well, there's no need to avoid MSG.

Many doctors argue that an individual can be allergic to MSG because the “allergic response” is not IgE-mediated. IgE is an antibody that triggers an allergic reaction in the immune system. Since symptoms related to MSG do not involve the immune system, it cannot be called a true allergy.

A popular seasoning and flavor enhancer, MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is the purest form of umami, the fifth taste. MSG (monosodium glutamate) is widely used to intensify and enhance umami flavors in sauces, broths, soups and many more foods.

It's not just the fat, salt and sugar that make Pringles so yummy, however. Varieties, such as Texas barbecue and the paprika version enjoyed by David Cameron are coated with monosodium glutamate (MSG) — a natural salt with a meaty taste commonly added to Chinese food.

Parmesan cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes are particularly high in this substance. MSG is also used as an additive in processed foods and fast food, especially Chinese food.

As for Burger King and Taco Bell, MSG is only in select items (Doritos tacos and grilled chicken items, respectively). A pantry-staple. In most cases, MSG is in the flavor packet.

Our food recipes do not use added MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) and, based on information from our suppliers, MSG is not added to any of the ingredients we use. However, certain foods and ingredients naturally contain glutamate or glutamic acid (such as tomatoes, milk, cheese, mushrooms and certain yeasts and proteins).

Why did we stop using MSG?

In the late 1960s, the ingredient came under fire for allegedly being a toxic addition to some of your favorite foods, from soups and salad dressings to Chinese takeout and French fries. It became so stigmatized, in fact, that some restaurants started advertising that they'd cut MSG from their menu entirely.

The Japanese are filled with foods full of MSG (pssss, ancient Japanese secret, it's where umami comes from) and gluten (soy sauce), yet they are outliving Americans and being less of a fatass while they're at it.

Mainland China is largely responsible for the recent increases in world production and consumption of MSG. Currently, mainland China is the world's largest MSG producer and consumer. In 2021, mainland Chinese production and consumption accounted for the majority of both world production and consumption.

Various herbs such as garlic, savory, tarragon, rosemary and pepper add a spicy, savory flavor to foods. Other spices such as turmeric and cumin are good alternatives to MSG and add warmth to any dish.

McDonald's doesn't use MSG in its food that is on the national menu, and there are no updates from the company yet on whether the Crispy Chicken Sandwiches will be added to the menu permanently. McDonald's has been making strides to use purer ingredients in its food.

Regular consumption of MSG, which is used to enhance the taste of many snacks, processed foods, and pre-cooked ready meals, has been linked to fatigue, headaches, depression, and anxiety. Some food dyes used in drinks, candies, cheese, and other processed foods have also been associated with anxiety symptoms.

The researchers, Nirupa Chaudhari and Stephen Roper, said Friday that if you always want a second helping of tomatoes, grapefruit, potatoes, apples, oranges and mushrooms, it is probably because they have plenty of MSG. Many pet foods are loaded with it.

While Wendy's chicken has always been MSG free, Wendy's also removed artificial flavors, preservatives and colors from artificial sources. Wendy's created one of the industry's first Animal Welfare Advisory Councils in 2001 to review and strengthen animal care standards by suppliers.

Multiple studies across the world have shown MSG to be safe for consumption. As a responsible corporate citizen, KFC mentions the presence of MSG in its products in all its communication including product packaging, menu boards, website and television commercials in accordance with law."

Does McDonald's Quarter Pounder have MSG?

McDonald's doesn't use MSG in its food that is on the national menu, and there are no updates from the company yet on whether the Crispy Chicken Sandwiches will be added to the menu permanently. McDonald's has been making strides to use purer ingredients in its food.

There is no MSG in any of Taco Bell's menu items.

As for Burger King and Taco Bell, MSG is only in select items (Doritos tacos and grilled chicken items, respectively). A pantry-staple. In most cases, MSG is in the flavor packet.

Pizza Hut uses MSG in their dough. How much MSG do you think is in each 1kg of flour? Yes, the above ingredients are a form of MSG - basically, anything hydrolyzed or hydrolised contains MSG.