The comparison between chicken essence and monosodium glutamate (MSG) has always been a topic of discussion, with the notion that "chicken essence is safer than MSG" becoming more prominent. Today, let's take a closer look at which one is better.
Which is more harmful: Chicken Essence or MSG?
Many people have biases against MSG but favor chicken essence, believing that chicken essence is made primarily from chicken meat and is not only nutritious but also healthy. However, in reality, chicken essence also contains a certain amount of MSG, and their safety levels are similar. The nucleotide components in chicken essence are also susceptible to degradation by nucleotide enzymes and cannot withstand prolonged high-temperature heating. Therefore, it is best to add chicken essence or MSG when the dish is almost cooked.
Is consuming MSG harmful to health?
The main ingredient in MSG is sodium glutamate, which is primarily derived from grains and undergoes fermentation and purification to become one of the most common seasonings. Scientific studies have shown that when heated at 100°C for half an hour, only 0.3% of sodium glutamate turns into caramelized sodium glutamate, which has minimal impact on the human body. If MSG is added at the end of cooking and does not exceed the recommended amount (adults should not consume more than 6 grams of MSG per day), it has no adverse effects on health.
Is consuming chicken essence harmful to health?
Chicken essence is often regarded as an alternative to MSG. Compared to MSG, the composition of chicken essence is more complex, and the World Health Organization has not provided specific guidelines on the daily consumption of chicken essence. As long as it is used correctly and not subjected to prolonged high-temperature heating, it is also harmless to health.
Populations who should avoid chicken essence and MSG
1. Infants should not consume them. Excessive consumption of chicken essence or MSG by infants can cause an excessive excretion of zinc in the urine due to the conversion of blood zinc into glutamate zinc, leading to acute zinc deficiency.
2. Breastfeeding women should avoid them. If breastfeeding mothers consume excessive amounts of MSG, a large amount of glutamate will enter the baby's body through breast milk, resulting in zinc deficiency in infants.
3. Pregnant women should avoid them.
4. People with liver or kidney diseases should not consume them excessively.
Tips to keep in mind
MSG is purer compared to chicken essence and is highly soluble in water. Even when diluted 3000 times with water, its umami taste can still be felt. Therefore, the amount of MSG used can be less than that of chicken essence.
Chicken essence has a more complex composition and contains some sodium salts. Therefore, when adding chicken essence, it is important to use less salt to avoid the dish becoming too salty.
