MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) - What it is and How to Spot it in Japan

MSG is an abbreviation for monosodium glutamate and is an ingredient that is frowned upon in the United States but widely used in Japanese food. At Kokoro Care Packages we ensure that our products are MSG-free, but here's a look at what MSG is and how to identify it on Japanese labels. 

MSG is the combination of salt, water, and glutamate which is used to enhance the flavor of food. It was discovered in the early 20th century and is known to increase the full bodied savory taste known as umami. Glutamate was discovered by Kikunae Ikeda, a Japanese chemist, when he was investigating common qualities in foods that he ate. He found a way to extract glutamate from seaweed and stabilized it with water and salt into the compound we know today. This product spread throughout Japan and East Asia and the original “Aji no Moto” sold by Ikeda can often be found in Japanese households. 

Today, MSG can be found in a variety of foods in Japan including common seasonings, ready made meals, at restaurants and in “reduced sodium” products as a way to reduce the amount of salt used while still enhancing flavors.

MSG is most commonly referred to in Japanese as the amino acid "chyoumi-ryou (amino-san)" (調味料 (アミノ酸)). In order to identify whether a product has MSG, look for the bolded characters in the ingredients list of Japanese products. It is referred to “amino-acid” after the Aji no Moto seasoning that was invented by Ikeda. MSG can also be found listed as the following: 

• Kagaku choumi-ryou (化学調味料)
• Kachou (化調)
• Gurutaminnsann natoriumu (グルタミン酸ナトリウム)
• Gurusou (グル曹)
• Umami choumi-ryou (うまみ調味料)

For MSG-free products look for kagaku choumiryou mu tenn ka (化学調味料無添加) or mutennka (無添加) on product packaging. 

Learn more about reading nutrition labels in Japan.

 

 Hi All! I am Miriam Weiss and am a mixed race Japanese/American passionate about promoting Japanese culture and all that it has to offer around the world. I grew up between Japan and California and was most recently living in Boston before moving to the Netherlands! I am excited to share my passion and knowledge with all of you!