MSG Exposed (Monosodium Glutamate)

Many Taco Bell menu items contain MSG (free glutamate)

People have told me that Taco Bell appears healthier to other fast food because it’s tacos and burritos rather than greasy burgers, but there it nothing further from the truth. Taco Bell has a cult-like following of loyal fans that crave their creative quasi-mexi-american food inventiveness. What most do not realize is there is massive amounts of free glutamate (MSG) stuffed into their food. This may be why people crave and eat this stuff many times a week and sometimes more than once a day! The proof is in the pudding MSG.

Taco Bell has worked hard to keep the words “Monosodium Glutamate” off of their ingredients list, but that doesn’t mean there is no MSG. MSG (free glutamate) is hidden in other more harmless looking ingredients in order to create a “clean label” or the illusion that a food is more natural or harmless than it really is. Many of these MSG containing ingredients are labeled as Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Chicken Meat, Calcium Caseinate, Chicken Broth and Natural Flavoring. Also see our list of Hidden Sources of MSG on Food Labels for more ingredients that contain MSG.

The following Taco Bell menu items contain various forms of MSG (free glutamate):

• Beef, Seasoned

• Chicken, Southwest

• Chicken, Spicy Shredded

• Chili

• Dressing, Avocado Ranch

• Red Strips, Lime Seasoned

• Rice, Express

• Rice, Seasoned

• Salsa, Citrus

• Sauce, Creamy Lime

• Sauce, Fire

• Sauce, Green Tomatillo

• Sauce, Nacho Cheese

• Sauce, Pepper Jack

• Sauce, Red

• Steak, Carne Asada

The following Taco Bell menu items contain Carrageenan*:

• Sour Cream, Reduced Fat

• Strawberry Topping

• Empanada, Caramel Apple

• Chicken, Spicy Shredded

• Chicken, Southwest

• Steak, Carne Asada

The following Taco Bell menu items contain BHT and/or TBHQ**:

• Chicken, Spicy Shredded

• 

  Taco Bell Fiesta Platter loaded up with MSG

  Eggs

• Sauce, Pizza

• Steak, Carne Asada

• Cinnamon Twists

• Empanada, Caramel Apple

• Nacho Chips

• Nacho Chips, Express

• Red Strips

• Red Strips, Lime Seasoned

• 

  The Seasoned Beef has MSG

  Rice, Express

• Rice, Seasoned

• Shell, Chalupa

• Shell, Pizza

• Shell, Taco

• Shell, Taco Salad

• Shell, Tostada

More information about these harmful additives

*A Note About Carrageenan

“Carrageenan increases free radicals. It is a polysaccharide made from a seaweed, the substance is known to produce intense inflammatory reactions when injected into tissues. In fact, the intense reaction is so reproducible it is used when researchers want to study inflammation. Inflammation is strongly associated with intense free-radical production within tissues. It also may promote accelerated bowel cancer growth.” Carrageenan is used as a thickener. When even small amounts of carrageenan are injected near developing tumors in animals, tumor growth, and eventual metastasis, increases dramatically¹.”
-Source: Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills by Russell Blaylock M.D.

1.) Raz A, Levine G, Khomiak Y. Acute local inflammation potentiates tumor growth in mice. Cancer Letters 148(2000): 115-120

**Definition of TBHQ from Wikipedia:

TBHQ is a highly effective preservative for unsaturated vegetable oils and many edible animal fats. It does not cause discoloration even in the presence of iron, and does not change flavor or odor of the material to which it is added. It can be combined with other preservatives such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). As food additive, its E number is E319, where it is used as a preservative. It is added to a wide range of foods, with highest limit (1000 mg/kg) permitted for frozen fish and fish products. Its primary advantage is enhancing storage life.

It is used industrially as a stabilizer to inhibit autopolymerization of organic peroxides. In perfumery, it is used as a fixative to lower the evaporation rate and improve stability. It is also added to varnishes, lacquers, resins, and oil field additives.

Carcinogenicity of TBHQ

In high doses, it has some negative health effects on lab animals, such as precursors to stomach tumors and damage to DNA.^[1] A number of studies have shown that prolonged exposure to TBHQ may induce carcinogenity.^[2] Other studies, however, have shown inhibition against HCA-induced carcinogenesis (by depression of metabolic activation) for TBHQ and other phenolic antioxidants.^[3]

1. ^ Tert-Butylhydroquinone – safety summary from The International Programme on Chemical Safety
2. ^ Gharavi N, El-Kadi A (2005). “tert-Butylhydroquinone is a novel aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand”. Drug Metab Dispos 33 (3): 365–72. doi:10.1124/dmd.104.002253. PMID 15608132.
3. ^ Hirose M, Takahashi S, Ogawa K, Futakuchi M, Shirai T, Shibutani M, Uneyama C, Toyoda K, Iwata H (1999). “Chemoprevention of heterocyclic amine-induced carcinogenesis by phenolic compounds in rats”. Cancer Lett 143 (2): 173–8. doi:10.1016/S0304-3835(99)00120-2. PMID 10503899.

Have It Your Way? Well, if you care about avoiding the brain damaging additive MSG at Burger King, you’re not gonna get it your way. A large portion of their lunch menu items are highly loaded with Monosodium Glutamate and other forms of free glutamate/free glutamic acid. Of course, you should know that fast food is not health food in any respect, regardless of how the fast food chains market their products, they are typically highly loaded with excitotoxins. You may also want to read how MSG is linked to Obesity and also a study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health published in the journal Obesity. Also, MSG Causes Rapid Brain Cell Death and Studies show MSG Fed Mice became Grossly Obese.

The following Burger King menu items contain Monosodium Glutamate (MSG):

• BREADED ORIGINAL CHICKEN PATTY (Fried): Monosodium Glutamate in the patty and ALSO breaded with Monosodium Glutamate

• SPICY CHICK’N CRISP™ PATTY (Fried)

• Breaded TENDERCRISP® Chicken Filet (Fried Whole Muscle Breast)

• BK®CHICKEN FRIES (Fried)

• Crown Shaped CHICKEN TENDERS® (Fried)

• SAUSAGE (Fried)

• Sausage Gravy

The following Burger King menu items contain Autolyzed Yeast Extract:

• TENDERGRILL® CHICKEN FILET (grilled): Autolyzed Yeast Extract in the meat filet and ALSO glazed with Autolyzed Yeast Extract

• GARLIC PARMESAN CROUTONS – SALAD TOPPINGS Autolyzed Yeast extract

• LOADED POTATO Topping (for Steakhouse Burger)

• SMOKY CHEESE SAUCE

The King of MSG!

The following Burger King menu items contain MSG in the form of Sodium Caseinate:

• BISCUIT – Contains MSG (free glutamate) in the form of: Sodium Caseinate

• CROISSANT – Contains MSG (free glutamate) in the form of: Sodium Caseinate

The following Burger King menu items contain mulitple forms of MSG (free glutamate) in various forms:

BK VEGGIE® BURGER PATTY: Supplied by MORNINGSTAR FARMS® – Contains MSG (free glutamate) in the form of: Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), Calcium Caseinate, Hydrolyzed Corn, Soy, and Wheat Protein, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Natural Flavors

Also see our list of Hidden Sources of MSG on Food Labels.

Many Popular McDonalds food items contain MSG (free glutamate) from various sources.

A quick look at the McDonalds ingredient list on their website makes it absolutely clear to the MSG informed. McDonalds food contains MSG (free glutamate) in many of their most popular food items. Do you eat Chicken McNuggets or Premium Chicken Breast Strips because you think they may be healthier than other things at McDonalds? If you understand at all what MSG (free glutamate) does to your body (obesity), brain, endocrine system, then you’ll want to know what to stay away from food-wise. I can’t recommend people not eat at McDonalds at all because that’s not my place, but it’s fast food and you know it’s not health food. The list following are food items on the McDonalds menu that contain MSG (free glutamate) from various sources. The ingredients listed are known to contain or are typically suspected to contain MSG (free glutamic acid) unless noted otherwise. The underlined ingredients are huge give-aways and Always contain MSG (free glutamate/glutamic acid). Also see our list of Hidden Sources of MSG on Food Labels.

Big Mac® Sauce:

• Vegetable Protein (hydrolyzed corn, soy and wheat)

Chicken Selects® Premium Breast Strip:

• Seasoning (Autolyzed Yeast Extract, maltodextrin, chicken broth, natural flavor)

Grilled Chicken Breast Filet:

• Seasoning (maltodextrin, spices, autolyzed yeast extract, hydrolyzed (corn gluten, soy, wheat gluten), chicken broth, natural flavors

Southern Style Crispy Chicken Breast Filet:

• Yeast Extract, Carrageenan***, maltodextrin, natural flavors

Chicken McNuggets contain MSG (free glutamate).

French Fries

• Natural Beef Flavor CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK (Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients)

Chicken McNuggets®:

• Chicken Flavor (Autolyzed Yeast Extract, natural flavoring)

Barbeque Sauce:

• Soy Sauce

Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce:

• Soy Sauce

Creamy Ranch Sauce:

• Monosodium glutamate,

Yes the fries have MSG. It's beef flavoring that is hydrolyzed.

Chili Lime Tortilla Strips:

• Autolyzed Yeast Extract, maltodextrin, citric acid

Grilled Chicken Breast Filet:

• Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed (corn gluten, soy, wheat gluten) proteins, chicken broth, natural flavors

Newman’s Own® Low Fat Family Recipe Italian Dressing:

• Hydrolyzed soy protein, citric acid

Sausage Patty:

• Whey protein concentrate, monosodium glutamate, citric acid, BHA and BHT** Note: BHA & BHT do not contain MSG but there are other health risks. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, consider BHA to be possibly carcinogenic to humans, and the State of California has listed it as a carcinogen. Some studies show the same cancer causing possibilities for BHT

Southern Style Chicken Sandwich has MSG (free glutamate)

Hash Browns:

• Natural Beef Flavor (wheat and milk derivatives) Note: Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients.
  

Sausage & Scrambled Egg Mix:

• Monosodium Glutamate

Southern Style Crispy Breakfast Chicken Breast:

• Yeast Extract, carrageenan***, maltodextrin, natural flavor

***A Note About Carrageenan

“Carrageenan increases free radicals. It is a polysaccharide made from a seaweed, the substance is known to produce intense inflammatory reactions when injected into tissues. In fact, the intense reaction is so reproducible it is used when researchers want to study inflammation. Inflammation is strongly associated with intense free-radical production within tissues. It also may promote accelerated bowel cancer growth.” Carrageenan is used as a thickener. When even small amounts of carrageenan are injected near developing tumors in animals, tumor growth, and eventual metastasis, increases dramatically¹.”
-Source: Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills by Russell Blaylock M.D.

1.) Raz A, Levine G, Khomiak Y. Acute local inflammation potentiates tumor growth in mice. Cancer Letters 148(2000): 115-120