Sneaky MSG

 MSG is my enemy. I'm one of those who do not like "umami" or  flavour enhancer that makes one want to go back for more. Many exotic restaurant dishes contain it openly as one of their main ingredients. I dare not eat there. If I do, I stick to the wonderful green tea or a salad with no dressing or sauce. I'm one of the low percentage of humans who have a "violent reaction" to MSG or similar. MSG is, indeed, a natural product just like peanuts, milk, gluten and so on, that some others cannot consume safely. Having to read labels and question restaurants, is difficult. When I eat out, I tell the server about my reaction and almost all of them  inform the kitchen. Thank you. MSG, that used to be called commonly, Accent, is in most Soy Sauces, that make you normally, want more of it. I feel no shame in asking, and good restaurants, no matter how small, will check for you. There have been suings. Most meat dishes and pre-prepared food products contain it. Just look. MSG, hydrolysed or autolysed vegetable protein and now, I just learned, whey yeast extract are guilty. It begins with a feeling of overall weakness. My shoulders feel droopy. Then come the abdominal cramps, nausea and overall and oddly, a fear of dying. Next, the urgent others ensue. I learned the hard way, to stop eating out or in other places without questioning the food ingredients. Some  were offended but the best ones, weren't. I make sure I read all food labels. It can happen at home, too. Today I made a recipe using a bottled Alfredo sauce. There was no warning about MSG on the label. I felt safe.  Right after I had the delicious recipe for dinner, oops, the symptoms came on. I took an antihistimine immediately. It worked in part. I had read the label.  Later I went on line to ask about the specific item and learned that protein yeast extract in it, is  a form of MSG as is any byproduct with hydrolysed vegetable protein plus others. They all cause the reaction. Once, I felt ill after eating out, until later when I finally found out what was causing the problems. Some scoff, but it's because they don't have the reaction as badly. Pure MSG is even listed as an ingredient in some cook books. Perhaps you have this situation happening and wonder why you feel so unpleasant eating out. Please check, because you can still enjoy food out. Just ask without worry.  It's for  your own health.