Americans pour mountains of salt onto their food. We also reflexively say, “No, thank you,” to Monosodium Glutamate, which could lower one’s salt intake.
We’ve been saying no to MSG for decades, but why? According to one of MSG’s leading manufacturers—Ajinomoto—MSG’s bad reputation is both undeserved and rooted in racism.
In the 1960s, a wave of anti‐Asian xenophobia created a nationwide panic about MSG. This fear had an immediate impact on a vulnerable group of Americans: Chinese restaurant owners.
To survive the backlash, they were forced to prominently display “No MSG” signs on menus and storefronts. Soon, other restaurants and food products adopted that same misleading symbol. Now decades later, there remains a lot of unlearning before America can fully appreciate a beloved seasoning that’s enjoyed around the world.
The global food conglomerate has been fighting back with scientific and historical evidence and now they’re using humor to help re-educate people on the benefits of its flavoring product.
This new spot from PR giant Edleman features former labor organizer turned stand-up comedian Jenny Yang who looks forward to a fact-filled convo with the “Goop Goddess” over a delicious home-cooked dinner. As she points out, Goop is one of the lifestyle brands peddling bogus information about MSG.
Directed by Paul B. Cummings, the spot opens with Yang conceding that she was willing to delve into the Goop buzz and try their many recommendations for healthy living including red-light therapy and beet cocktails. She also smartly asks who gets to decide that her grandma’s red braised pork belly is less “clean” than your grandma’s chicken pot pie.
