Merriam-Webster revises 'Chinese restaurant syndrome' entry

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Merriam-Webster revises 'Chinese restaurant syndrome' entry

May 22, 2020

Merriam-Webster has updated its entry on “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” a term many Asian Americans saw as antiquated and even racist.

The phrase was previously defined as a legitimate illness brought on by food seasoned with monosodium glutamate but “especially Chinese food.” Merriam-Webster.com said symptoms include numbness of the neck, arms and back as well as headaches and dizziness.

Now, the definition has a detailed disclaimer noting the term as “dated” and “offensive.” It also states research conducted since the so-called syndrome was reported in the 1960s has not found any link between MSG and those symptoms.

It also contains a link to another entry — the more clinical term, “MSG symptom complex.”

Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, confirmed the changes.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/288d3868cf157c0a1cf2a88c0e8d87af


FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2020, file photo, customers are seen through the window of a Chinese restaurant decorated with menu items in New York City. Merriam-Webster has updated its entry on “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” a term many Asian Americans saw as antiquated and even racist. The phrase was previously defined as a legitimate illness brought on by food seasoned with monosodium glutamate but “especially Chinese food.” (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

[RainCaster]

1. That's fair

As one of those who loves Americas Chinese restaurants, but gets a 3-4 day headache after injesting MSG, this is a far more accurate definition now.

[MenloParque]

3. Funny

I actually find flavor lacking at the claimed non-msg Chinese restaurants. Living in SF for many years I’ve heard friends and colleagues claiming they can’t do chinese Oh really?? It’s funny they can eat THE MOST MSG RICH foods like Chik fil-a, or KFC bit not chinese. Better not eat that pepperoni pizza with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top then cuz that’s crawling with msg!!

[RainCaster]

5. I get the same thing from Jimmy Deans sausage

I cannot eat anything from there for the same reason.
Fortunately, I have found a number of sausage varieties without MSG, because they are a favorite of mine.

[mainer]

2. It's found naturally in tomatoes and cheese

and so many other western foods. But for some reason, people blamed Chinese food.

Also, there's a certain amount of hypochondria here. My mother-in-law swears she gets Chinese restaurant syndrome, but if she's eating western food with MSG added (yeah, OK, so I added it because of the recipe) she didn't have a single symptom.

[PCIntern]

4. Interesting....

Anecdotally the only place I ever had this reaction was a GERMAN restaurant in Trenton, NJ called The Hofbrau House. I got so sick that my mother considered taking me to the hospital. It was a chicken dish with tomato sauce and cheese resembling chicken parm but not. I’ll never forget it.