If you’re reading this right now, I’m sure you’re curious about where to find msg in grocery stores. Well, I’m going to tell you precisely where the treasure lies.
The first aisle you should check for msg in grocery stores is the spice aisle, close to where salt is. You can also check where Asian spices are placed as they can also be found there sometimes.
I will break this down and make it easy for you, so no confusion or stress is involved!
What is MSG?
MSG stands for monosodium glutamate, and it’s a flavor enhancer derived from the amino acid glutamate.
It’s commonly used in restaurants and packaged foods, but it can also be found in your kitchen cabinets — you might not know it.
MSG has a savory taste that some people describe as “umami.” Umami is one of the five basic tastes (the others being sweet, sour, bitter, and salty) and is often described as delicious or savory.
It’s best known for its use in ramen broth, so some people associate msg with Asian cuisine.
But it has a wide range of applications!
You can use msg to make your chicken soup at home or add it to your favorite stir-fry recipe for extra flavor.
Aside from those, you can find MSG in many different foods, including:
- Soy sauce
- Soup broths (including chicken noodle soup)
- Steak sauce
- Chinese food seasoning mixes (like General Tso’s chicken)
- Some salad dressings
Where To Find Msg In Grocery Store?
Like I said before, you can find msg in the spice aisle near the salt products in the grocery store. However, it’s often placed alongside Asian spices.
And don’t be surprised if you can’t find it there, so you have to venture to the international aisle.
Lastly, you might want to check the bulk food stores. I’m pretty sure you can get some MSG from different brands.
What about placing your orders online? (more on that soon)
What Are The Brands Of MSG?
Some common brands of MSG include Ajinomoto, McCormick, and Accent.
Despite being from different brands, the taste or texture doesn’t vary significantly.
There is ONLY one ingredient among all brands: monosodium glutamate. Although McCormick is certified kosher.
What Stores Can You Buy MSG Aside from Local Grocery Store?
If you’re looking for a store that sells MSG, there are plenty of options!
Here are some places you can go:
- The grocery store in your neighborhood
- A whole foods store
- A health food store
- A grocery delivery service like Amazon Fresh, Walmart, Instacart, and Kroger.
- Meijer
- H-E-B
- Publix
- Safeway
- King Soopers
- Vons
How Do You Know If A Product Has MSG?
It’s not always easy to tell whether or not a product has MSG in it.
The best way to tell whether or not a product has MSG is to read the ingredients list carefully before deciding.
Secondly, many companies use “hydrolyzed vegetable protein” made from wheat and soybeans instead of MSG.
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, yeast extract, or autolyzed contains glutamate.
What Are Other Names For MSG On Food Labels?
MSG has many synonymous names, which manufacturers use on food labels. Some of which are:
Monohydrate, monosodium salt, monosodium glutamate, monosodium L-glutamate monohydrate, sodium glutamate monohydrate, MSG UNII-W81N5U6R6U, monosodium salt, L-Glutamic acid, and monohydrate.
What Type of Foods Contain MSG?
Pretty much all of them.
It’s used in almost every kind of food, from processed snack foods to canned soups to frozen dinners.
Below is a list of many.
- Fast food
- Chips and snack foods
- Seasoning blends
- Frozen meals
- Soups
- Processed meats
- Condiments
- Instant noodle products
It’s also in many medications and vitamins—even ones meant for children!
Conclusion
We’ve pointed out where to find Msg in grocery store. Now you all loyal Msg-easters can just walk straight into the store and get what you want.
However, it’s come under fire from the public health community that believes it may be responsible for numerous adverse health effects.
In the US, MSG has been designated as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), a classification given to many common food ingredients.
Nevertheless, it remains a controversial subject that many consumers want nothing to do with.
Read Also: