Has anyone ever had a physically bad reaction soon after going to a Chinese restaurant ? I did last night, but my friends were not as effected as I was.

At about 6:30pm, I went out last night to a very well known Zagat rated Chinese restaurant in my area with two other couples and their kids. We all ordered an assortment of appetizers and entrees that we all shared. I remember the teenage daughter of one of my friends remarking later that she felt dizzy after we returned to their home. We went home and everything was fine until about 11:30pm. I started feeling kind of dizzy. I knew that I was tired, but I usually don’t feel dizzy as part of being tired. I’m feeling much better today, but I don’t understand what happened to me. I couldn’t hold my head up sitting down, but I felt better lying down on my back. However, if I got up, the dizziness returned.

I suspected it could only be one thing: an overdose of monosodium glutemate. A common flavor enhancer used in Chinese restaurants, and other foods. I usually don’t get a reaction this strong. I consider myself to be in the best of health, so I could think of anything else it might have been due to.  

So I went on the web and did some research, and here’s what I found:

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly added to Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and processed meats. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified MSG as a food ingredient that is “generally recognized as safe,” the use of MSG remains controversial.

MSG has been used as a food additive for decades. Over the years, the FDA has received many anecdotal reports of adverse reactions to foods containing MSG. But subsequent research found no definitive evidence of a link between MSG and the symptoms that some people described after eating food containing MSG. As a result, MSG is still added to some foods.

A comprehensive review of all available scientific data on glutamate safety sponsored by the FDA in 1995 reaffirmed the safety of MSG when consumed at levels typically used in cooking and food manufacturing. The report found no evidence to suggest that MSG contributes to any long-term health problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease. But it did acknowledge that some people may have short-term reactions to MSG. These reactions — known as MSG symptom complex — may include:

• Headache, sometimes called MSG headache
• Flushing
• Sweating
• Sense of facial pressure or tightness
• Numbness, tingling or burning in or around the mouth
• Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Dizziness

Symptoms are usually mild and don’t require treatment. However, some people report more severe reactions. The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid foods containing MSG. When MSG is added to food, the FDA requires that “monosodium glutamate” be listed on the label — or on the menu, in restaurants.

After reading this, I think I will contact a restaurant before I eat there and ask the manager if they use MSG in their food preparation. I don’t understand what they consider to be “safe” amount.  I understand that some Chinese restaurants have a sign that says “No MSG”.

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deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Aug 18, ’08 I remember having this reaction at “Uncle Albert and Aunt Helen’s” restaurant when I was a kid. Whenever we visited they took us to eat there. Shortly after dinner once I got that very reaction; dizziness, extreme pressure on my head like an elephant was stepping on me, tingling, numbness. It’s enough to make an adult think they are having a heart attack! In those days they were clueless. Yes, it was the MSG, and over the years MOST restaurants were savvy enough to curtail using it and say so on the menu, and/or post it. I believe it is a derivitive of beets. I remember Albert giving me a pink clear plastic mug that said ACCENT on it. That was the stuff that did the trick. MSG. The affect was awful, some of us are more reactive to it than others. If I were you I would call and complain and get the others to do so too. Say you got really ill and you’ll never eat there again if they can’t guarantee they’ll no longer use it.  Tell them they’ll lose their Zagat rating and report them to Zagat!

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Aug 18, ’08 Laurita: I am also very sensitive to MSG which results in my heart fluttering like a butterfly (quite distressing) & overall feeling of malaise. I love chinese food and luckily we have a restaurant that cooks without any MSG,which is lovely as food is very fresh. You have to ask for them not to put any MSG in the food otherwise it is commonly used in Chinese food preparation. (Even in China Town in SF they use it !) MSG is also used in lots of prepackaged seasoning like ACCENT and various meat seasonings. Live and learn! I’ve also had the same type of reaction to salad bars where the lettuce is sprayed with some type of preservative. My aim in eating is to avoid preservatives whenever possible. Hope you are feeling better!

deletereply tulipsinspring wrote on Aug 18, ’08 I’m really sensitive to MSG as well, and I agree that you should contact them about this. It seems, as well, that it wasn’t just you. I’m sorry this ruined what otherwise sounds like a nice dinner. 🙁

deletereply starfishred wrote on Aug 18, ’08 Yes it can do that.Did yo know there are different kinds of MSG?It also comes naturally it can be ugly stuff glad you are feeling better now.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Aug 19, ’08 The funny thing is, is  that I have eaten at that restaurant before, and it didn’t effect me like this. Maybe they don’t use it in all there dishes. It’s enough to make me give up Chinese food. I really felt like I was possibly having a stroke because the dizziness was so severe.