MSG in Chinese food isn't unhealthy -- you're just racist, activists say - edition.cnn.com

...For years, monosodium glutamate, a food additive known as MSG, has been branded as an unhealthy processed ingredient mainly found in Chinese food, despite a lack of supporting scientific evidence.

...This perception, which activists argue is outdated and racist, is so widespread that the Merriam-Webster dictionary has an entry for the term "Chinese restaurant syndrome" -- a type of condition that allegedly affects people eating "Chinese food heavily seasoned with monosodium glutamate," with symptoms like dizziness and palpitations.

...Now, activists have launched a campaign called "Redefine CRS."

...Headed by Japanese food and seasoning company Ajinomoto, the online campaign urges Merriam-Webster to change its entry to reflect the scientific consensus on MSG -- and the impact of misinformation on the American public's perception of Asian cuisine.

...In a video released by Ajinomoto, several Asian American figures, restaurateurs, and medical professionals spoke out against the misconceptions surrounding MSG and Chinese food.

...The campaign proposed a new definition for "Chinese restaurant syndrome" in the Merriam-Webster -- "an outdated term that falsely blamed Chinese food containing MSG, or monosodium glutamate, for a group of symptoms."

...The fight for Asian food in America As the Ajinomoto campaign points out, the public scare over MSG unfairly placed the blame on Chinese food -- and is partly why many in the United States still think of Chinese food as processed, unclean, or unhealthy.

Tweets mentioned:

https://twitter.com/why_use_msg/status/1217103414829690880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/MerriamWebster/status/1217453128758583296

https://twitter.com/Missionstfood/status/518132336181780480

https://twitter.com/Missionstfood/status/518132336181780480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/davidchang/status/1066883685818003457?lang=en

https://twitter.com/davidchang/status/87221465371516929

https://twitter.com/davidchang/status/1066883685818003457?lang=en

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