THE Ministry of Health has issued a warning against the use of
monosodium glutamate in cooking, saying it poses a health risk.
The warnings, carried in state-run media last week, said the
flavour enhancer can cause asthma, skin rashes, chest pain, hypertension,
heart disease, increased pulse rate, nervous tension and renal
problems.
Dr Khin Maung Lwin, the deputy director of Health Planning Department’s
Central Health Education Bureau, said one of the reasons why monosodium
glutamate posed a health risk was because it contained sodium
and therefore increased salt intake.
He also said monosodium glutamate can become addictive.
