i am looking for a test kit that I can use in restaurants to test to
see if the food contains monosodium glutomate (MSG).  Can you please
find it for me ?

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Request for Question Clarification by legolas-ga on 19 Nov 2002 22:26 PST

Hi timmccarthy,

Apparently there are indeed test strips available that can be placed
in your food to tell you if there is MSG present. This site:
http://www.thegreenherb.com/msg.htm
Suggests that you speak to your pharmacist about ordering the strips.

MSG is an Amino Acid. Specifically, Glutamic Acid. However, after
calling a few pharmacists and spending a reasonably long time looking
for the strips, I just can't. So, I thought I'd post what I had found
so that it wouldn't be totally wasted.

The FDA has a small primer on MSG here:
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/msg.html

Other sites of interest on MSG:
http://www.holisticmed.com/msg/
http://www.msgfacts.com/

If, the fact that I've located a page that says that it exists is in
fact good enough for you, please let me know and I can post this as an
'answer'. Otherwise, I sincerely hope another researcher will be able
to find the strips for you.

Thanks again!


Search terms:

test strip "monosodium glutamate"

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Clarification of Question by timmccarthy-ga on 20 Nov 2002 10:28 PST

Thank you for your good hard work.  I am ok with accepting the info as
an answer. So, you can post it as an answer.

Also, on another note,I would like to look into other food testing
items, if you would to work on that one for a similar fee, please let
me know.

"i am looking for a test kit that I can use in restaurants to test to
see if the food contains monosodium glutomate (MSG).  Can you please 
find it for me ?"
 

Answer:

I was able to find one food test kit plus one alternative that may
prove useful.

Life-Work Potential sells a food additive test kit that detects, among
other things, MSG.
The Web site lists the cost as “From £22.98 ($37.92).” Visit
http://www.lifeworkpotential.com/shop/Test_Kits1996.htm#3092 and
scroll down to Food Additives A.

If all you want to do is test for MSG, this is more than you need.
Still, I haven’t found anything else I’m sure will suit you.

Here’s another possibility.

NMKL offers methods for testing for numerous compounds. They have a
way of testing for MSG in meat, fish, and soups. It’s test No. 138 at
http://www.nmkl.org/Engelsk/methods.htm. The Web site offers few
details about the test, and I don’t know if it’s something you could
do in a restaurant. For more information, use this e-mail address:
nmkl@vetinst.no. I have an e-mail in to them, but it’s after business
hours in Norway, and I received an out-of-office autoreply from Nina
Bakkelund that said the following:

“Takk for din e-post.  Den vil bli besvart så fort som mulig.
NMKLs hjemmeside: www.nmkl.org
Veterinærinstituttets hjemmeside: www.vetinst.no

Thank you for your e-mail. We will reply as soon as possible.  
NMKL: www.nmkl.org
National Veterinary Institute: www.vetinst.no”

If she sends me something tomorrow, I'll post it as a clarification of
my answer.


I hope this does the trick.


Other sites:

If you want to buy a product that “detoxifies” MSG in the body, check
out the MSG Homeopathic Detox Formula at
http://wellnesscoaching.com/shop/cart/index.html


Research paper on food additives, section on history and problems of
MSG.
http://www.geocities.com/ahkitj/foods/1997/foods1.htm#MSGproblems


Search terms

Test kit “monosodium glutamate”

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Clarification of Answer by vercingatorix-ga on 20 Nov 2002 13:42 PST

Thanks for the tip. It brings back memories of my pizza delivery days.

thank you for your help

Apparently, those test strips aren't available anymore. I had a
conversation with the person whose site legolas-ga mentioned had
recommended them, and he told me he knows of no place to get them
anymore.

I also searched extensively, using several search engines/strategies
with no results. I have a couple of inquiries outstanding, but am not
optimistic.

The gentleman at "thegreenherb" in Denver recommends vigorously
questioning all restaurants you visit about MSG in their foods. He
even mentioned several specific restaurants and specific dishes that
he's found have MSG, but I probably should not post that sort of thing
here :)

The reference to NMKL in the answer is a bit misleading.  NMKL is an
abbreviation for "Nordisk metodikkkomité for levnedsmidler" (Nordic
Committee on Food Analysis).  NMKL does only draw up the standards for
the proper way of testing for certain compunds in foods, they do not
perform any testing for clients.

You can buy the method description from NMKL, but it costs NOK 150
(~US$ 20) and you need to have access to some laboratory equipment to
perform the test.

I too found the test kit listed in the answer above:
http://www.lifeworkpotential.com/shop/Test_Kits1996.htm#3092

Yet, my understanding was that it was a kit for testing tolerance to
the food additive: and not for the detection of the food additive. I'd
probably just confirm which one it is prior to ordering the item.

After extensive searching and couple of telephone conversations, I've
come to the conclusion that there is no instant test available for use
in a restaurant.

You should carefully check exactly what any test apparatus actually
does before purchasing.