Popeyes customers fought each other over the fast food chain’s chicken sandwiches when they were first introduced. People continue to stand in long lines at Chick-fil-A for their chicken sandwiches. Why are these foods so seemingly addictive?
Some accuse the chains of hiding ingredients and describe the items as “chemical-laced” sandwiches. One of the main culprits most likely is monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Labeled a “toxic addition,” MSG is primarily used to enhance taste and increases cravings for the food it’s added to, Black Health Matters reported.
MSG, a flavor enhancer, is a topic of debate.
The United States Food and Drug Administration recognizes MSG as generally safe, yet some people associate it with symptoms like headaches, flushing, and sweating, known as MSG symptom complex. Research, however, hasn’t conclusively linked these symptoms to MSG.
Studies have indicated a potential link between MSG consumption and weight gain, and it’s associated with neurodegenerative diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The FDA has received many reports of concerning reactions that people have attributed to foods that had MSG in them.
These reactions — called MSG symptom complex — include headaches, sweating, face pressure or tightness, fluttering heartbeats, and chest pain, among others.
In Popeyes’ Spicy Chicken Sandwich, MSG appears multiple times. It’s injected into the chicken, added to the spicy seasoning, and even present in the batter as “yeast extract,” which contains free glutamic acid, a component of MSG.
Popeyes has announced plans to eliminate MSG from its menu by 2025.
“We are currently testing all-clean ingredients in our batter, breading, and sandwiches in a few U.S. markets, and we expect to be on track to an all-clean menu nationwide by 2025,” the company said in a statement to Bloomberg.
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