eeeew

[n2doc]

FDA announces recall of ingredient used in soups, snack foods, dips, dressings


MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press Writer
5:12 p.m. CST, March 4, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — A wide range of processed foods — including soups, snack foods, dips and dressings — is being recalled after salmonella was discovered in a flavor-enhancing ingredient.

Food and Drug Administration officials said Thursday that the ingredient, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, is used in thousands of food products, though it was unclear how many of them will be recalled. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said no illnesses or deaths have been reported.

The officials said the recall, which dates to products manufactured since Sept. 17, is expected to expand in the coming days and weeks. It only involves hydrolyzed vegetable protein manufactured by Las Vegas-based Basic Food Flavors Inc., which did not return a call for comment Thursday.

The agency said Thursday it collected and analyzed samples at the Las Vegas facility after one of the company's customers discovered the salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and others with weakened immune systems. The FDA then confirmed the presence of a strain of salmonella in the company's processing equipment.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-ap-us-fda-processed-foods-recall,0,6276998.story

[villager]

1. Isn't that another name for MSG?

I'd heard it was...

[Bluebear]

2. i do not believe so

MSG is a flavor "enhancer"

[MineralMan]

3. No, it's not.

Google it and see.

[villager]

7. apparently so, per your Google test:

"...Hydrolyzation of protein inevitably creates some (processed) free glutamic acid (MSG)."

(As our Corn Syrupy friend below also noted!)

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/nomsg.html

[MineralMan]

9. Glutamic acid is not MSG.

MSG is made, using glutamic acid, but they are not the same thing. Your question was whether HVP is the same as MSG. It is not.

[villager]

11. Apparently, they're similar

...can be used for similar kinds of "flavor enhancements," and can provoke similar responses in those with MSG sensitivity.

Also, it's Friday -- you can lighten up a bit! ;-)

[MineralMan]

14. Glutamate occurs in many foods, from fruit to mushrooms, and

even in meats. This recall has nothing to do with glutamate. It has only to do with Salmonella contamination.

[MineralMan]

15. Similar does not mean the same thing as identical.

Whatever you ate today had glutamates in it, most likely. I hope it didn't also contain Salmonella.

Salmonella can contaminate most foods. In this case, it contaminated some HVP. A recall has been launched.

Next time, Salmonella will contaminate some other food, and another recall will be issued.

HVP is not the reason for the recall.

[villager]

16. So much for the lightening up!

I'm not sure why you think that I think that's the reason for the recall. I never stated as such. Simply asked
about the MSG connection (on which note, see post #10, and the Health Canada citations, below...)

And yes, a recall has been launched.

[MineralMan]

18. People who don't like hearing the truth are forever telling the

person telling them the truth to "lighten up." Sorry. I take errors like yours seriously. So, I present factual information. You don't like factual information? Does it conflict with some particular mission you're on? Sorry.

The truth will be printed.

Your question was whether HVP wasn't just another name for MSG. The answer to that question is a big, unequivocal "No."

Inconvenient, isn't it?

[villager]

21. This from the person whose footer says "Life is Far Too Important

...to be taken seriously?"

Seriously?

O.k.

[MineralMan]

24. Here's the deal. You asked a question.

Your question was whether Hydrolized Vegetable Protein was just another name for MSG. It is not, and I said that. You argued with my statement. I demonstrated that it was not, so you then said it was "similar," and continued the argument. I'm happy to play along.

The point was that bringing up the entire MSG thing had nothing whatever to do with the recall that is in progress. It is a separate issue. I clarified that point.

You told me to "lighten up." Whenever someone tells me that, I know they're on a mission. So, I refuse to do so. You post. I reply. It is the way DU works.

In summary, my points were:

1. HVP is not another name for MSG
2. Glutamates are natural flavor components of many foods.
3. The HVP recall is about Salmonella contamination, and thus has no connection to glutamates OR MSG.

That is all.

[villager]

26. What you consistently misunderstand is

that by asking the question -- since HVP is similar to MSG, if not exactly the same -- I was trying to get a gauge on how widespread its usage might be.

So I guess the query was more about the what the parameters of the reall might be, given that MSG is itself widespread (and one might expect HVP usage to be similarly "ambient")

No link was made to that being the reason for the recall, but generally people on a mission to prove they are absolutely right, and you are absolutely wrong -- with no shades of grey in between -- will insert such straw men, as it gives them more to be "right" about.

Nor are they good at lightening up. Alas.

Happy weekending!

[MineralMan]

28. You did not ask if it was "similar," but whether it was the same

thing using a different name. Unless you edited your question, it's there for all to see. Do you not see the difference?

[villager]

29. I asked if it was the same, and found out it was similar!

But not exact!

That "shades of grey" thing again!

Plus, I didn't have to be 100% right, so was glad to further learn about the differences!

[MineralMan]

33. You probably need to think about my sig line a little longer.

I laugh a lot. I also take things seriously a lot. It is possible to do both.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. Yes, it is.

Glutamate is the conjugate base of glutamic acid. Put them in solution, foodstuffs for example, or the human body, and glutamic acid is instantly converted to glutamate.

pKa's around 4.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Pretty much.

MSG is just one of the twenty amino acids that make up all proteins.

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein is just protein that's been converted into its constituent amino acids, glutamate being one of them. In fact, I believe that it's still glutamate which is the most active "flavor enhancer" involved. So it's sort of a watered down MSG that "sounds more natural" to consumers, even though MSG if perfectly natural already.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. No, but it's also a glutamate and people who are sensitive to MSG may also react to HVP.

People who are allergic to MSG are usually advised to avoid products with these flavor enhancers (hydrolyzed _____proteins, regardless of the middle word, and autolyzed or hydrolyzed yeast are high in glutamates.)

[villager]

8. So "MSG-like"

..if not actually exactly MSG...?

[Gormy Cuss]

10. That's right.

Here's a more professional explanation from Health Canada:

What is MSG?

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of the naturally occurring amino acid, glutamic acid which makes up 10 to 25 % of all food protein, from both animal and vegetable sources. In addition to being an ingredient intentionally added to foods, glutamate occurs as a natural part of proteins, including vegetable and animal proteins. These proteins, when broken down (i.e.: by cooking) release free glutamate and are themselves used as ingredients in various prepared meat products, soups, broths and gravy mixes.
(snip)

Are there other sources of glutamate in food?

Consumers may believe that MSG is the sole source of glutamates, and thus the only source of concern to sensitive individuals who may react to glutamates. However, any foods that are inherently high sources of free glutamates may also be of concern to sensitive individuals. The Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology (FASEB)1, in its report on adverse reactions to monosodium glutamate, concluded that there is no difference in the physiological response to synthesized and natural glutamates.
(snip)

How is MSG labelled?

When MSG is added to prepackaged foods, it must be declared on the list of ingredients of food labels, even when it is a component of flavouring preparations, spice mixtures, food flavour-enhancer preparations and other preparations or mixtures. This permits individuals who are sensitive to MSG to avoid this substance.

Claims pertaining to the absence or non-addition of monosodium glutamate such as "contains no MSG", "no MSG added" and "no added MSG" are considered misleading and deceptive when other added sources of free glutamate are present (e.g., hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP), hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP), hydrolyzed soy protein (HSP), soya sauce or autolysed yeast extracts). There are also a number of common food ingredients that contain high levels of naturally-occurring free glutamate, including tomatoes and tomato juice, grapes and grape juice, other fruit juices, cheeses such as Parmesan and Roquefort, and mushrooms. There are no labelling requirements for naturally-occurring free glutamates.

[MineralMan]

13. And, again, the recall has nothing to do with the glutamate

content of HVP. It is due to the contamination of the product with Salmonella. Let's try to keep the two things separate, shall we?

[villager]

17. You seem to be the only one inferring that particular connection...

n/t

[MineralMan]

19. The answer to your original question is still "No."

[villager]

20. Enjoy your great and mighty victory in DU's "MSG Wars!"

:toast:

[MineralMan]

25. Not a victory for me, but for truth.

[Gormy Cuss]

32. Who made that connection?

I was responding to a post asking if HVP was MSG.

[Tippy]

4. But.....

Because of the high levels of MSG in hydrolyzed vegetable protein, people sensitive to MSG should avoid hydrolyzed...

[MineralMan]

22. Which has nothing to do with this recall.

The OP was about the recall. The MSG/Glutamic Acid/Glutamate issue is something completely different.

The three are three separate chemicals, by the way.

[MineralMan]

12. The thing is that this recall has nothing to do with the glutamate

content of the HVP. Instead, it's due to the presence of salmonella bacteria in the product. Whether you like glutamates or MSG, that has nothing to do with the recall.

The Salmonella bacteria grow on other parts of the protein mix, and have no relationship with the glutamic acid content of the HVP.

Lots of things contain glutamate. Its an amino acid contained in many things, from wheat gluten to mushrooms. It's a naturally-occurring chemical. It is turned into MSG, a salt of glutamic acid, and sold as MSG.

Glutamate is the essential reason for the umami reaction in humans. That is considered to be a flavor that can be detected by the taste mechanisms in our body, just like sweet, sour, bitter, etc. Umami was only recently recognized as the taste sensation that makes us like so many of the foods we eat.

Glutamate is everywhere.

This recall is about salmonella contamination in a product that has HVP as one of its ingredients. The recall is about salmonella, not glutamate, MSG, or HVP.

[mainer]

23. I've always questioned whether MSG-sensitivity is real or not

Since it seems to be present in so many natural foods. Also, the people I know personally who claim they suffer from chinese-restaurant syndrome are all histrionic hypochondriacs.

[MineralMan]

27. MSG is a modification of the natural flavor ingredient, glutamate

or glutamic acid. As such, I wouldn't be surprised of some people are sensitive to it. It's virtually impossible to avoid glutamates in any diet, since they occur naturally in so many different foods as a natural component.

MSG sensitivity is pretty well-recognized as a problem for some people. They should avoid it, certainly. However, those same people may be able to eat glutamate-containing foods like meat, fish, beans, mushrooms, and many fruits without any symptoms.

In fact, most of them probably consume glutamates on a daily basis.

HVP is not a natural food, although it is made from food. It is a highly-processed food derivative, widely used as a flavor enhancer, a role it plays very successfully. Turns out, though, that one manufacturer of this product had some equipment contaminated with Salmonella, and shipped some contaminated HVP to other companies, who added it to their products. Thus the recall.

That was what the OP was about: The recall. The rest was something completely off-topic. I posted to correct misinformation that popped up in the thread. I do that sometimes, when I have the correct information.

[mainer]

31. turns out "chinese restaurant syndrome" doesn't really exist

It's all in their heads.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6P-475T8XT-D&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F1993&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=22cfdd3b79b03ba2499facedde2fdd86

[MineralMan]

34. It looks like an interesting study, but I'm not really in a position

right now to buy the full study. I'll go look to see if anyone has written about that study.

Some people appear to have a negative reaction to MSG. That seems true enough. The study may not have found people with a genuine reaction. I just don't know.

In terms of the OP for this thread, it's irrelevant, though, since the recall had nothing to do with glutamate or MSG in the first place. We have a group of people here on DU who are dedicated to the idea that MSG is harmful, generally, to people's health. Often, they don't know a great deal about MSG, but are merely repeating stuff they have read on alternative health sites.

That MSG and glutamates are different things is irrelevant to those people. Glutamates occur in many foods they eat every day, but they don't know that. They only know that they read somewhere that someone said that mono-sodium glutamate was an evil food additive, put in food deliberately by corporations to make more money.

So, they come to threads like this one which only have a very marginal connection, and try to turn the thread into an anti-MSG thread. It's boring, and untruthful, and I respond to such threads with factual information. Facts anger zealots, so there you have it.

It's OK, though. I'll just keep doing that, anytime I see incorrect information on subjects like this being presented as fact. It's one of my missions.

[bvar22]

30. The only way to know FOR SURE:

Grow your own.

The Corporate Food Production & Delivery System in the USA is hopelessly corrupted and contaminated.
Essentially, there are NO effective safeguards or oversight.

Even your local Farmer's Market can't be trusted.
Some of the vendors WILL use MORE pesticides, herbicides, chem fertilizers than a commercial farm, especially if their small crop is threatened.
THEN, "they" WILL tell you to your face that, "Sure. My stuff is ALL organic."
It happens.

Not everyone.
But some.

[Gormy Cuss]

36. In states that have certified farmer's markets, that's pretty rare

In fact, if they're caught suggesting that they're organic they can be threatened with expulsion from markets in some states. Where it's not regulated it may be a different story.

I agree with you in general though -- growing your own is the only way to be sure.