Natural versus manufactured MSG
Although there is a huge MSG industry and lobby, along with the usual mainstream media suspects, who will tell you that the glutamate found in manufactured MSG is the same as that found in nature, and thus is safe as nature itself - they neglect to tell you this one curious fact: Only manufactured MSG causes the adverse reactions associated with MSG.
From http://www.truthinlabeling.org/
The ingredient that causes MSG reactions in MSG-sensitive people is manufactured/processed free glutamic acid.(1) Manufactured/processed free glutamic acid is found in processed foods (9) -- but it is not found in unprocessed or unadulterated meat, fish, or vegetables (including soybeans, mushrooms, and tomatoes.).(3) Only meat, fish, or vegetables that have been subjected to some sort of manufacturing or fermenting process will cause MSG reactions in MSG-sensitive people who ingest amounts that exceed their tolerances for MSG.(1) Dairy products, also, may cause MSG reactions in MSG-sensitive people because some dairy products are ultra-pasteurized, some are fermented, and many contain food additives such as carrageenan that are problematic for MSG-sensitive people.(1) All manufactured/processed free glutamic acid contains contaminants (D-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and others) (12,13), while the glutamic acid found in intact/unadulterated protein contains no contaminants.(3) Some manufactured/processed free glutamic acid contains carcinogenic mono and dichloro propanols.(