What is MSG, and what’s with all of the sh*t talking? Jessica gets answers to these questions with the help of dietitian Cara Harbstreet and a few research rabbit holes.  Jessica and Cara talk about how a (maybe fake?) letter to the New England Journal of Medicine kicked off decades of hysteria about “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.” The true author of that letter has been in question for years and the story takes a couple sharp turns. 

Science has largely debunked the negative impacts of MSG–but, sadly, that doesn’t always impact public perception. 

Jessica also has serious questions about how Americans view flavor and she’ll come back to that in later episodes.

Five-Thirty-Eight on MSG and xenophobia

Science History Institute 

New England Journal of Medicine recognizing historical injustices

Know MSG campaign

You can buy awkward merch!

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Jessica Wilson's book: It's Always Been Ours; Rewriting the Story of Black Women's Bodies