About the MSGdish Blog
Welcome to the MSGdish blog! MSGdish is your gateway to important information about glutamate, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the many culinary creations inspired by “umami.” MSGdish hosts a broad array of information about umami, glutamate, and MSG, as well as tidbits about food, taste, and health.
Glutamate, one of the most abundant amino acids in our diet, has been recognized for more than a hundred years for its role in enhancing and balancing the savory taste of food. Also known as “umami,” savory is one of the five basic human tastes, along with sweet, sour, salty and bitter.
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Opinions and other statements expressed by users and third parties (e.g., bloggers) are theirs alone, not necessarily the opinions of The Glutamate Association. You acknowledge that by providing you with the ability to read and distribute content through our site you have agreed to this website’s Terms of Use. The Glutamate Association is not undertaking any obligation or liability relating to the content.
This site is designed primarily as an educational resource and should not serve as a replacement for professional medical advice or to diagnose or treat health problems. It does not provide comprehensive information on nutrition nor should it be viewed as an endorsement of specific products. Advice and information regarding your personal health, nutrition and diet are appropriately done only by a qualified health professional.
Permission to reprint information in whole or in part contained on this blog is granted, provided customary credit is given.
MSGdish Commenting Policy
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Meet the MSGdish Bloggers & Expert Advisors
Keith Ayoob, EdD, RD
Dr. Keith Ayoob is an internationally known nutritionist and an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where he has maintained a clinical practice for more than 20 years. Keith also is Director of the Nutrition Clinic at the Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center at Einstein.
Keith has worked extensively in the areas of obesity, heart health, child nutrition and family dynamics. He is the author of The Uncle Sam Diet, the first book on the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Keith received his doctorate degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College, his Master’s from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and he completed his undergraduate work at the University of California at Davis.
Keith is a registered dietitian specializing in child nutrition and health. For nine years he served as a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (now called Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). He has appeared on many national news programs and is a highly sought after speaker for his practical, consumer-friendly advice on a variety of timely nutrition issues. Keith’s research has appeared in professional journals and he contributes expert opinion pieces to ABCNews.com and USAToday.com.
Mary Lee Chin, MS, RD, LD
Mary Lee Chin is a registered dietitian specializing in health communications. Committed to providing the public with sound nutrition information, she is regularly consulted by local and national media on nutrition trends and significant health and food issues. Her company, Nutrition Edge Communications, consults on public relations health initiatives, working to clarify news about controversial nutrition issues and food products. The goal is to provide accurate, science-based information so people can make realistic and wise food decisions.
Mary Lee completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition at Purdue University, and received her Masters of Science degree in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University.
Mary Lee works with commodity food groups and the food industry on nutrition education initiatives. She specializes in translating peer-reviewed research into realistic and practical recommendations, and countering myths and misinformation.
Mary Lee speaks to businesses, non-profits and health professionals, and has served as an expert witness on food related issues in federal and legislative hearings. Her goal is to communicate the pleasures of eating well while making wise, realistic and science-based choices. She was recently awarded Outstanding Dietitian of the Year by the Colorado Dietetic Association.
Theresa Hedrick, MS, RD
Theresa Hedrick is a dietitian in private practice who specializes in GI disorders and food allergies and intolerances. She is passionate about making nutrition fit within the constraints of the real world. Theresa previously spent years coaching heart patients at Emory University Hospital Midtown through lifestyle changes as well as teaching students at Oregon State University and Georgia State University the basics of nutrition.
Theresa holds a Master of Science in Nutrition from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Food Science from Clemson University. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and has served on the Executive Committee of the Dietitians in Business and Communications Dietetic Practice Group and the Board of the Greater Atlanta Dietetic Association multiple times.
Theresa is the author of three published peer-reviewed scientific studies, and has written nutrition and technical articles for Food Product Design and GreerNow magazines. She has been featured as a nutrition expert in interviews with Senior Voice America, Spry Magazine, and Mom Talk Radio, among others.
Sylvia Klinger, DBA, MS, RD, LDN, CPT
Dr. Sylvia Klinger is an internationally recognized nutrition expert who is relentlessly passionate about helping people fall in love with the process of creating and enjoying delicious and nutritious foods.
As a food and nutrition communications professional, Dr. Klinger is a global nutrition professor, award-winning author and the founder of Hispanic Food Communications, Inc.
Her Hispanic background fuels her passion for nutrition, leading her to empower and encourage those in her community through the foods they enjoy in their kitchens. At the same time, she understands everyone’s needs are different and seeks to individualize nutrition to best fit each person and their journey to a happy and healthy life.
Her latest publication, The Little Book of Simple Eating, was published in 2018 in both Spanish and English.
Tessa Nguyen, MEd, RD
Tessa Nguyen, MEd, RD, is an internationally acclaimed chef, registered dietitian, and speaker. As the founder and principal of TN Media, her talents come to life in the form of deliciously diverse recipes, cultural auditing, bespoke content development, speaking engagements, and countless media work. Tessa’s areas of expertise include health equity within the food and nutrition industries, food and agriculture connections, inclusive culinary nutrition applications, accessible and affordable cooking, and food allergies and intolerances including the low FODMAP diet.
Tessa’s multiethnic heritage and lived experience across multiple countries has centered her in providing inclusive services founded on cultural humility. Connect with her on Instagram @thetessanguyen.
Kaye Taylor, MS
Kaye Taylor is an author and consulting nutritionist with more than 15 years’ experience representing clients in the food industry, providing strategic leadership and consulting on meal planning, recipe development, consumer-focused educational materials relating to food and nutrition, science-based communications, and media relations. Kaye’s first commitment to learning more about food preparation was from an excellent teacher of home economics in middle school.
In college, Kaye was named a member of Omicron Nu, the National Honor Society for excellence in family/consumer science, during her senior year. Her interest in food, and subsequently nutrition, eventually led her to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees at major Midwestern land-grant universities that had excellent food and nutrition programs.
In addition to her extensive nutrition communications work, Kaye has counseled patients as well as spent time “back of the house” in a variety of operations, ranging from Meals on Wheels, a popular deli, and hospital foodservice. Kaye brags to her friends about winning second place in a national Kraft salad contest. To this day, she refuses to share the recipe with friends and family!
And our Featured Guest Bloggers
Christopher Koetke (“Chef Chris”), MBA, CEC, CCE
Christopher Koetke is Corporate Executive Chef at Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition, North America. He previously was the Chief Consultant at Complete Culinary, LLC, and Dean of the Sun Valley Culinary Institute. He is a past Vice President of both the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts and Laureate International Universities Center of Excellence in Culinary Arts.
“Chef Chris” joined the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts in 1998, serving first as a culinary instructor and later as associate dean, dean and executive director. Under his leadership, the School of Culinary Arts was awarded the Academy of the Culinary Arts Cordon d’ Or – Gold Ribbon Cooking School of the Year Culinary Academy Award for 2008.
Chef Chris began cooking professionally in 1982, and has worked in some of the world’s finest kitchens. He is a certified executive chef and certified culinary educator by the American Culinary Federation. He is the host of the Emmy-nominated cooking show “Let’s Dish” on the Live Well HD network and co-author of the award-winning The Culinary Professional.
Chef Chris earned a B.A. from Valparaiso University and an M.B.A. from Dominican University. He is a member of the board of the American Culinary Federation Foundation Accrediting Commission, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the International Food Editorial Council, and the National Restaurant Association.
Aaron Andrews ("Chef Aaron")
Aaron Andrews is Associate Corporate Chef at Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition, North America, and now has more than 10 years’ experience in the foodservice and restaurant industries.
As a seasoned hospitality veteran, “Chef Aaron” has an eye for what the clients and customers want, the ability to develop it, and the skills to lead a team to deliver it. Chef Aaron has excelled in both front of the house and back of the house operations in a variety of environments with the advanced knowledge of the principals and practices within the foodservice profession.
He is a hands-on leader who has opened 50+ restaurants, created brands and managed multi-unit restaurants with a proven track record of success in culinary arts, operations and leadership.
Chef Aaron earned his B.A. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University.
Amy Philpott
Amy Philpott is executive director of The Glutamate Association (TGA), a non-profit trade association. In the more than 10 years before joining the TGA team she managed marketing and communications for the United Fresh Produce Association, US Apple Export Council, US Dry Bean Council, and California Table Grape Commission.
Previous responsibilities included international marketing, education and membership marketing, reputation management, and crisis communications. She has also served on the Agriculture Department’s Trade Advisory Committee.
Amy grew up in California’s San Joaquin Valley, where she helped cultivate and market grapes and oranges grown on her family’s farm. Amy holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Fresno, and a Master of Arts in public communication from American University. She is fully accredited in public relations.
Important Disclosure: MSGdish bloggers are professionals who are extremely knowledgeable and considered to be experts with regard to food and nutrition. They have established their careers in science-based nutrition communications and have served as expert consultants for the food industry in general, and for specific food companies. They have been compensated for their time in writing for MSGdish but their statements and opinions are their own. MSGdish bloggers have pledged to blog with integrity, asserting that the trust of their readers and their peers is vitally important to them.