March 26, 2009

LA City Council
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles , CA 90012

Dear Honorable Councilmember,

The Greater Valley Glen Council passed the following motion and hopes you will ask Sacramento legislators to put an MSG product labeling policy in place for the state of California . There are individuals, for example, who have suffered from migraine headaches for years unaware that MSG is the culprit.

Motion:

“When food companies hide the presence of MSG (or free glutamic acid) in products, consumers are misled and lose the ability to choose what they put into their bodies. It is estimated that 2% - 40% of the public are negatively affected or become quite ill by the presence of MSG. Food companies may hide MSG under 40+ names that consumers would not recognize, (i.e. gelatin, natural flavor, soy sauce, seasonings, autolyzed yeast, calcium caseinate, textured protein, yeast food, etc.). The Greater Valley Glen Council wants to see improved product labeling and suggests the following: When there is a new product on the market or a recipe change, the food manufacturer must measure for free glutamic acid and disclose it as MSG on the label with levels present in milligrams.”

___________

Additional MSG facts:

MSG is Always In:

• Autolyzed yeast
• Calcium caseinate
• Gelatin
• Glutamate
• Glutamic acid
• Hydrolyzed protein
• Monopotassium glutamate
• Monosodium glutamate
• Sodium caseinate
• Textured protein
• Yeast extract
• Yeast food
• Yeast Nutrient

MSG is Often In:

• Barley Malt
• Bouillon
• Broth
• Carrageenan
• Enzyme-modified substances
• Flavoring
• Flavors
• Malt Extract
• Malt flavoring
• Maltodextrin
• Natural flavor/flavorings
• Natural pork/beef/chicken flavoring
• Pectin
• Protein-fortified substances
• Seasonings
• Soy protein
• Soy protein isolate or concentrate
• Soy sauce
• Soy sauce extract
• Stock
• Vegetable gum
• Whey protein
• Whey protein isolate or concentrate
• Spice

MSG can be found in shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, vitamins, medicines, candy, milk, chewing gum. Even food that is labeled “organic,” can have MSG. Lettuce and vegetables are often sprayed with MSG because it gives the lettuce a renewed look, (even at restaurant salad bars). Meats can be rinsed with MSG phosphate substance (this is rarely mentioned on the meat’s label)

Thank you and feel free to contact me if you have any questions at (818) 346-5280.

Sincerely,

Charlotte Laws, Ph.D.
Greater Valley Glen Council. /  Chair of the Government Relations Committee