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The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Monday banned Ajinomoto, commonly known as Chinese salt, after the authority's scientific panel found it hazardous for health.
According to the findings of the scientific panel of the PFA, Chinese salt contains Monosodium glutamate (MSG) which can cause headaches, fatigue, palpitations, nausea and vomiting, sweating, flushing and numbness of the face, more so among people who are sensitive to it.
It can also cause hypertension and is extremely hazardous for pregnant women, the panel found.
The PFA scientific panel recommended banning the usage of Ajinomoto in all eateries, frozen foods, and all other food products.
The authority has issued a final deadline of March 31 to bring the use of Chinese salt to a complete halt.
Chemically, it is a salt of the amino acid family — Glutamic Acid (glutamate).
According to some reports, regular use of this ingredient can cause long-term issues like high blood pressure, autism, hormonal imbalance, epilepsy, food allergies, asthma, reduction in bile formation, cancer and possible sterility in females.
According to some findings, the MSG over-stimulates the brain tricking one into thinking that food tastes really great, so the person consuming it not only wants to have more of that food, but also want to go back to it. This is termed as magic ingredient that food companies love to use as a flavour enhancer in their products.
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Comments (51) Closed
Jan 15, 2018 08:54pm
Better late than never!!!
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Jan 15, 2018 09:02pm
MSG , Monosdium Glutamate, is injurious to health if taken in extra dose. This salt is an integral part of Chinese Soups, and Chinese Dishes. The advertisements through brand names by several companies, made it an essential for every kitchen. People must the above report, based on facts, and avoid MSG in routine dishes.
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Jan 15, 2018 09:35pm
MSG is banned in Canada. There are ads of chinse restaurants claiming no MSG added. Should one believe them? I will not. Thanks Pakistan!!
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Jan 15, 2018 09:41pm
Picture has just started good luck Pakistan
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Jan 15, 2018 10:15pm
Chinese food products are contaminated and hence banned in many countries that have strict food & health regulations. Chinses food products should not be sold in Pakistan.
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Jan 15, 2018 10:17pm
We have known ajinomoto to be hazardous for a long time.so what is new here. Pakistan found it in 2018.
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Jan 15, 2018 10:20pm
Glutamate is a dangerous food component and should be avoided. It causes alergies.
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Jan 15, 2018 11:06pm
MSG is almost entirely banned in the west. The Chines use MSG as a flavor enhancer!
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Jan 15, 2018 11:36pm
Let us see for how many days does the ban last.
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Jan 16, 2018 12:48am
been used in Pakistan for 3-4 decades and now the Pakistanis realize it.
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Jan 16, 2018 01:16am
The best salt comes from Pakistan - pink Himalayan salt. Himalayan salt is relatively high in iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and chloride. It also contains traces of boron, fluoride, iodine, zinc, selenium and copper, all of which are necessary for bodily health. As a naturally occurring salt, Himalayan salt contains all these minerals without chemical processing or refinement.
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Jan 16, 2018 01:53am
Why not use the famous Himalayan salt instead? Don’t trust this cheap Chinese stuff
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Jan 16, 2018 03:04am
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is banned in Western countries including USA and Canada since 80's being neurotoxin leading to development of cancer.
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Jan 16, 2018 04:18am
switch to Himalayan salt then, I found it to be the best
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Jan 16, 2018 04:26am
A wise move. MSG must be banned in all foods , apart from Ajinomoto, its also found in many other food additives in Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Malayan cuisine . A number of these items are commonly used in Pakistan too, nowadays.
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Jan 16, 2018 04:57am
They are great friends, but we should remember their food standards aren’t great.
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Jan 16, 2018 05:21am
A ban effective aMarch 31 is way too late. In almost 10 weeks, it will be consumed by several million people in homes, restaurants and eateries and many commercial products endangering health & life of so many. Why not effectuate an instant ban, pulling off from the shelves and godowns and a total ban on import.
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Jan 16, 2018 06:13am
Good job
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Jan 16, 2018 06:21am
And MSG is made from animal bones, including any animal ??????
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Jan 16, 2018 06:35am
Good step, this taste enhanser is bad for health. It should be banned through out Pakistan
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Jan 16, 2018 06:44am
Realisation started late but ok. At least realised.
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Jan 16, 2018 07:28am
All Chinese food products are substandard. Even other products are use and throw
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Jan 16, 2018 07:33am
Watch out guys Chinese products are notorious for added chemicals.../
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Jan 16, 2018 07:41am
An excellent step. Noy only is MSG bad for health, it is also unclear whether the MSG used in a food is from halal source or pork. It should be banned all over the country.
If you go to a Chinese place, ask your server for Chinese Salt free food.
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Jan 16, 2018 08:57am
Pringle lays are few of finished good which have the same. All ready to eat snaks from multinational cos have the same
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Jan 16, 2018 09:29am
Ajinomoto was already deemed bad back in 1980 in Pakistan, wonder was Punjab governments sleeping?
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Jan 16, 2018 09:48am
@Ahmed KP govenerment of Imran Khan and Sindh government of Zardari is still sleeping. Atleast give credit where it is due.
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Jan 16, 2018 10:37am
Good move if it is hazardous.
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Jan 16, 2018 10:51am
It is a flavour enhancer. Monosodium glutamate is found naturally in tomatoes, cheese and other foods. MSG is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer with an umami taste that intensifies the meaty, savory flavor of food, as naturally occurring glutamate does in foods such as stews and meat soups.
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Jan 16, 2018 10:58am
Good step ! Who and how any one will Bell this cat ! Chinese restaurants are a booming business! Dear folks ,you are one your own .PFA , thanks .
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Jan 16, 2018 11:05am
It seems the Pakistani Food Authority is basing their decisions on 1960s data. MSG occurs normally in many foods including Wheat. After years of research, international organisations like the FAO and WHO concluded that MSG is no more dangerous than salt or sugar or nuts. Some people may have some problems with these products, but the majority consume them and have no problems. The WHO, US FDA and other regulatory bodies classify MSG as ' GRAS' - Generally Recognised As Safe. The decision reflects on the poor scientific approach by the Food Authority
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Jan 16, 2018 11:10am
Harmful effects of MSG are very controversial. First of all, Ajinomoto is a Japanese company, not Chinese. Secondly, Ajinomoto is not a salt but it’s an Umami Seasoning. Thirdly, it’s still sold in the US. There are several symptoms reported due to MSG, however, researchers have not been able to link any of them to the MSG.
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Jan 16, 2018 01:01pm
These types of action should taken by all provinces, further restaurants and hotels also need to inspect for their ingredients and food quality.
We usually eat food from hotels/restaurants blindly, we just check frontal cleanliness and taste !!!
Authorities think about it.
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Jan 16, 2018 05:20pm
That's good, but if gets fully implemented!
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Jan 16, 2018 07:57pm
What about soya sauce and Chinese chilli sauce.
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Jan 16, 2018 10:17pm
As per findings use of ajinomoto should henceforth be stopped.
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Jan 17, 2018 08:43am
@Sam MD from US You are correct that Ajinamoto is a Japanese company. However, today the majority of MSG is produced by Chinese using fermentation of Glucose as the process to produce it.
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Jan 17, 2018 01:17pm
@Sam MD from US
You are absolutely right that Ajinomoto is a Japanese Company and the brand and it is not outright harmful, if used with discretion. It might cause health concerns for some, like those who are allergic to certain foods, for example Egg Plant, Tomatoes, etc. Pakistan might have tested Ajinomoto, Monosodium Glutamate, produced in China. For that matter all Chinese products while cheaper are also harmful.
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Jan 17, 2018 01:35pm
Not only salt but Chinese financing model is also highly injurious to country's economic health.
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Jan 17, 2018 04:31pm
@Khan What makes you think they are great friends. They are there for their own good. Don't get misled with the smooth talks. They would give little and take more.
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Jan 17, 2018 06:03pm
This is a wake up call for all those administrative set ups in other provinces to carry out tests on these imported as well as indigenous food additives. Likewise being practiced as a law in the western countries that each item must gets its certification from concerned department clearly showing it is safe to use by the general public, we should follow suit. The credit of this awareness goes to those members of the civil society who have made great efforts by moving the SC, through petitions in the public interest, and have become instrumental in spreading of this awareness. Like here in US, a civil society group called Nedar group carries out surveillance of all food items sold in the market, likewise we need a civil society outfit, who may be able to circumvent use of dead animal meat, adulterated food and tea leaves additives etc. We have to be very careful of products being imported from China in particular, because of cultural and dietary preferences in vogue in their country.
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Jan 17, 2018 06:59pm
@Farooq no it isn't banned in USA & Canada. Please provide prove if it is
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Jan 18, 2018 08:17am
@Zaf Is Himalayan salt the same as mined from Khewra mines of Jhelum district or it is something different?
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Jan 18, 2018 08:35am
there is myth i china, anything move on earth you can eat and serve. beware they can mix anything to make money. there
is a proverb small eyes and nose can be decisive.
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Jan 18, 2018 09:45am
Our people with rapidly growing rate of illiteracy will never understand these things and then we have business community who is only and all about making money. Be it from making and selling toys of recycled injections and other plastic from hospitals....making soap from main-hole waste....making milk from detergent and chemicals.the list never ends. We are going only in the depths of darkness.
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Jan 18, 2018 09:48am
Good step. Now also ban all noodles and snacks containing MSG as well. They are big hazard for health of children.
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Jan 18, 2018 11:19am
a really good move! MSG is also found in most ready masala packs, which are now routinely used in Pakistani households. I hope those masala packs are also banned.
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Jan 18, 2018 11:47am
every country having long terms plan like 25 or 50 or 100 years plan to execute long term mission to friend or enemy country to impose slow drug or medicine like Antibiotic .. As we know today evey Pak & Ind are taking very large amount of banned drug is a part of Western.. same as MSG contain make stealth in long terms.. Ppl will loose ability to think in mass and country will not progress and dependent on some other. This is long term agenda. EU has agency to monitor every aspect but unfortunately we don't have any effective agency to monitor.
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Jan 18, 2018 11:48am
@Shaan Pink salt all goes to EU, USA, Japan & China.
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Jan 18, 2018 01:15pm
The yuan should be banned. Have some self respect
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Jan 18, 2018 01:22pm
Its name is wrong. It is flavor enhancer and it shudnt have been called Chinese salt.
False flavor enhancer
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