Future of MSG

What am I doing?

I am researching the current opinion on MSG and and am looking for the separation between age in order to conclude an accurate prediction for MSG's future inclusion in America's diet.

MSG

MSG enhances the flavor of foods such as red meats or poultry, and adds or increases the amount of “umami” flavor you get from the food. MSG is special in this case as there is no substitute for a powder that adds that extra umami without adding any other flavor.

Problem Statement

I am looking to see if there is a visible correlation between age and how someone feels about MSG? Also I will be vetting the actual impact of MSG on the human body by evaluating the research that has been done on MSG's affects on the human body.

Significance and Value of Study

MSG is widely used in China and is a very popular and delicious food additive. Without the proper knowledge of opinions, we cannot assume that it will be used more in America further into the future.

Proposed Method of Study

I will be collecting opinions on MSG from different age ranges in order to create a readable spreadsheet that could possibly be used to institute a correlation, or lack of correlation.

Definitions and Variables

When I say "Opinions" I am inferring that the reader understands that I am attempting to collect the general feelings revolving around the use of MSG in people's diet.

Initial Assumptions

My initial hypothesis would be that there would be a correlation between different generations and there opinion on MSG, but it wouldn't be significant.

Findings

Value/Implications

Next Steps

Of course the collected pool of eighty-two responses is a lot smaller than what is prefered for a survey that should be displaying a general census of America, but it still displays a contrast of answers between ages from those surveyed. Even though more people aged 30 and under answered this survey than people 31 and up, it gives a better perspective into how different generations feel about MSG.

This clarification that has been made will hopefully allow for more impactful scientific experiments to be done about MSG’s impact on the body. Also these findings hopefully will further the contemplation time taken for research studies to be released through the media as the media's weight in the public opinion for future food additives is unprecedented. From this research it may open up the possibility of questioning other studies that found GMOs, artificial food colors, artificial sweeteners, and yeast extract to be harmful and how people’s opinions were influenced by them.

Since the FDA considers it safe and there is very limited, current research that has been done in an attempt to re-prove MSG’s negative health symptoms, it will be interesting to see what someone born in 2019 will have to say when they are told their fried rice has monosodium glutamate in it. The reaction, according to this research should be somewhat predictable. It is merely a waiting game to see if MSG’s bad name will fully fade out of existence, or if it will always be associated with the Chinese restaurant syndrome.

Research Question

My research question focuses on if there is a actual correlation between age and how someone feels about MSG?

Researcher

Hunter Zenisek

Class of 2019

Key Sources

-Chau Tu “Science Suggests MSG Really Isn't Bad for Your Health after All.” Public Radio International, PRI, 3 Oct. 2014, www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-03/science-suggests-msg-really-isnt-bad-your-health-after-all.

Beyreuther, K., et al. "Consensus Meeting: Monosodium Glutamate - an Update."European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 61, no. 3, 2007, pp. 304-13. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/219668234?accountid=38538, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602526.

Conclusion

In final conclusion, yes, it is quite possible that the research blaming MSG’s for symptoms of CRS has most dramatically affected people from ages 40-70 but is only slightly affecting the newer generations who are being educated on the true impacts of MSG on the human body.

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