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Mrs Stroppy and I have been riding the porcelain rollercoaster since we've been here and were expecting it while we acclimatise. However we're still struggling with nagging stomach upsets, to the point of starting a course of antibiotics a few days ago because Cambodia. A Khmer friend suggested to us that it's probably an MSG intolerance. I hadn't considered this, other than dining with an expat friend the other night who is allergic to MSG - the restaurant was fine with it and very accommodating.

Is anyone sensitive to MSG (rather than pukey allergic), and can you describe how it affects you please?

Edit: thinking it through, we don't eat out enough for this to be a major factor, but could still be a contributer.

I think most people get upset stomachs when they first move here even if they try to eat carefully. It well pass.

Did you eat processed food in Australia? MSG (or flavour enhancer 621) is in just about every processed food in Oz.

General Mackevili wrote:I think most people get upset stomachs when they first move here even if they try to eat carefully. It well pass.

Thanks, yep, that's what we're telling ourselves...

Digg3r wrote:Did you eat processed food in Australia? MSG (or flavour enhancer 621) is in just about every processed food in Oz.

I honestly didn't know that - http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/con ... 6MHYPmSySo

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, Standard 1.2.4 — Labelling of Ingredients, means packaged food must declare the presence of MSG or any other flavour enhancers as 'flavour enhancer' followed by their name or number as follows:

• 620 L -glutamic acid
  621 Monosodium glutamate, L-
  622 Monopotassium glutamate, L-
  623 Calcium glutamate, Di-L-
  624 Monoammonium glutamate, L-
  625 Magnesium glutamate, Di-L-
  627 Disodium guanylate, 5’-
  631 Disodium inosinate, 5’-
  635 Disodium ribonucleotides, 5’-

There is no requirement in restaurants and cafés to declare the presence of these additives. If you believe you are sensitive to them you should ask if they are being used. The owner should be able to tell you whether they are used.

Agree. Not bloody likely, MSG is ubiquitous. Personally I've come around to believe MSG is as harmful generally as salt and pepper.

JBTrain wrote:Agree. Not bloody likely, MSG is ubiquitous. Personally I've come around to believe MSG is as harmful generally as salt and pepper.

I was a chef when I was a young bloke, and we used MSG just like salt and pepper back then. I've never accepted the negative health claims. I can tell when it's in a dish, and frankly, it only ever improves the dish in my view. It can't improve poor food, but it can make good food that step better.

StroppyChops wrote: I was a chef when I was a young bloke,

Hey look, seriously, instead of telling us all the occupations you have had, just make the very short list of the few you haven't. Save a lot of time...

My career as a chef lasted less time than it took me to qualify. After working at a Swedish restaurant I ended up as Head Chef at one of Alan Bond's establishments, if that name is meaningful to you. He's the Aussie entrepreneur that took the America's Cup away from them, and then spectacularly went to jail, after purchasing a Van Gogh. Great story. My story of not getting paid months of wages when he went bust, and the ensuing wages claim, not so much.

Digg3r wrote:

StroppyChops wrote: I was a chef when I was a young bloke,

Hey look, seriously, instead of telling us all the occupations you have had, just make the very short list of the few you haven't. Save a lot of time...

And so now is the point at which you once again go all poo flinging ape at me, mock, ridicule, yadda yadda, decrease my karma, and then sulk silently for a week before repeating, right?