Monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is a flavor enhancer. It is a salt of glutamic acid. MSG heightens the savory flavor of food, but doesn't truly satisfy the appetite. It can commonly be found in canned fruits and vegetables, processed meats, soups, and Japanese, Chinese, and Korean dishes. Basically, MSG convinces the tongue that it is eating a nutritious food.

Here are some examples of products in the United States that heavily use MSG:

• Cheetos
• Doritos
• Pringles
• Cup-a-Soup
• Campbell’s Soup
• Planter’s Nuts
• Nathan’s Hotdogs

A lot of controversy surrounds MSG, but according to the Food and Drug Administration, it is "generally recognized as safe." However, as time has gone on, there have been many reports of negative reactions to MSG such as headaches, rapid heartbeats, chest pain, and nausea.

The European Union considers MSG a "food additive" allowed in some foods, but it does have some limits, so it’s difficult to know whether MSG is a true danger.

It is also important to consider that lower-income people, or people in the working class, must buy and consume these foods in order to not go hungry. This is an issue in itself with the food industry in the United States. We have to ask the question: If this food were proven dangerous, would we still give it to lower-income people?

Altogether, companies that use MSG are selling less "real" food and more illusions of food, but it is a cheap option for people and families in need of a meal.