According to legend, the safety of our food supply lies in the capable hands of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

According to the mandate given when those agencies were created, they bear responsibility for guaranteeing the health of the nation.

Over time, however, those three agencies have come to exercise their power for assuring the financial health of the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries they were created to regulate -- and to do so without regard for the well-being of consumers.  They do so with the blessing of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The FDA makes and enforces food labeling laws; and it is the FDA that determines whether or not processed free glutamic acid (MSG), or any other chemical, will be approved for use in food.

The FDA has a long history of cooperation with Ajinomoto and others in the glutamate industry.

The FDA is diametrically opposed to letting consumers know where MSG is hidden in food. (See The FDA's next move)

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Traditionally, the USDA has complied with FDA regulations pertaining to food products, even when those food products are regulated by the USDA. However, the USDA has chosen to ignore the FDA's decision to consider use of the words "No Added MSG" or "No MSG Added" to be deceptive, misleading, and therefore illegal when a product contains processed free glutamic acid (MSG). In fact, the USDA approves labels that are, according to the FDA, illegal.

It is worth noting that the USDA (champion of big business) now regulates the organic industry.  The glutes, most notably through an organization called the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) have, for years, been trying to have MSG granted organic status.  Sadly, there are a number of MSG-containing ingredients already granted organic status.  Rest assured there will be more.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the California Department of Food and Agriculture

These agencies have more recently become involved with the issue of the safety/toxicity of MSG. In 1997, the EPA approved the use of processed free glutamic acid in plant "growth enhancers," clearing the way for their use in fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides as well, and on every crop know to agriculture. California, a State known as having stricter safety standards than the EPA, is approving processed free glutamic acid for various uses related to various products one at a time.

The United States Congress

Congresspersons don't have to lie to consumers who ask them to label MSG. They have the FDA, the EPA, and the USDA to do it for them. You have to understand how the United States government works.

The Toxicity/Safety of Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG): A Study in Suppression of Information is a 52 page article, published in a peer reviewed journal, that demonstrates how the glutamate industry has showered the government and the public with deceptive and misleading information about the purported safety of MSG, and underwritten a many faceted campaign to help the Legislature ignore the toxic potential of MSG and con the American public into buying this toxic product.
 
 

adandjack@aol.com 858/481-9333 http://www.truthinlabeling.org

This page was last updated on July 12, 2004.

IF MSG ISN'T HARMFUL, WHY IS IT HIDDEN?