MSG

I have several recipes for KFC Honey Barbecue Wings but all seem to call for MSG.  I looked in a couple of grocery stores but couldn't find.  Wouldn't it be located in the spice section.  I also checked in seasoning section where Liquid Smoke is but could not find.  Any suggestions?

 You don't have to use it. It doesn't add any flavor only enhances flavors present. It is under the brand 'Accent'. They also sell MSG in the oriental section of my grocery stores or in Asian grocery stores if you have any.

From a health viewpoint, MSG is not good for you. 

chefly 

Believe it or not, MSG is made from soybeans.

Most Chinese Restaurants no longer use it. I thinkif it used only on rre occasins and very sparingly it would not hurt anyone except those who are allergic to it. Myself, I have never used Accent or MSG and my food tastes just fine. Like Chefly says, all it does is intensify and enhance flavors but you'll never miss it if you don't use it.

"Accent" was a common ingredient in many recipes years ago but you don't see it too often now.  I just leave it out.  The chinese restaurants don't like to use it anymore as it is very expensive for them and so many do have allergies to it that they find it easier to not use it than to take special orders to leave it out.  So skip over the MSG in your recipe. 

Another vote for leaving it out.  It's not good for anyone, and those who are especially sensitive to it can have reactions so severe they end up in the ER.

 

A word to the wise--for those who want to avoid MSG.  You need to educate yourself to the dozens of terms that manufacturers use to HIDE MSG in commercial foods.  Years ago, I was unaware of this practice.  Ate some commercially prepared food that--according to the label--looked safe.  I had a violent MSG reaction.  When I called the customer service line, the gentleman there confirmed that there was MSG in the product, but it was referred to as 'textured vegetable protein'.  He told me a few other buzz words to look for.  I've since found many, many more by doing some research on my own.

 

Back to the original question--use good fresh ingredients, high quality, fresh herbs and spices and you won't need to 'enhance' the healthy natural flavors of your food with a chemical additive like MSG.

I too say leave it out . My husband and I both get headaches the next day after having food with it in.

MSG is very bad for people. My daughter at age 6 was sickened each time she ate anything with MSG in it. She'd get a migraine, then grow violently ill. I had always suffered from migraines so the Doctor's checked her out thoroughly by getting an mri examination on our daughter. She was fine. They prescribed a no msg diet & she was healed. It turned out that her school served msg foods daily so this explained her sudden illness. She is 18 years old now & doing fine. So am I. We only get allergy headaches now.

MSG is a preservative & tenderizer, isn't it? I know it's a preservative but the latter, I'm not certain about.

No, it's not a preservative or meat tenderizer.

 

It's a 'flavor enhancer'.  It has no real flavor of it's own, but it tends to bring out the other flavors in foods.  If you use good, fresh ingredients, there's no real need to 'enhance' their flavor.