While my husband was in Florida Hospital in Orlando for 25 days for heart surgery, I checked with the hospital cafeteria manager to see which foods were MSG-free.  The reply was "brown rice and steamed vegetables, salad with no dressing, baked potatoes and french fries".  After 20 days of this repetitive diet, I called the Food Services Manager and requested an appointment.

Because I was facing upcoming surgery at this hospital, I needed assurance that I was not going to be fed anything with MSG.  Prior to the meeting, I sent the Food Services Manager the paperback book, "In Bad Taste:  The MSG Symptom Complex", by George R. Schwartz, M.D., together with a list of the "Hidden Names of MSG" and a letter explaining my concerns.  The Manager had at the meeting a physician, several nurses, hospital dieticians, and supervisors of the Food Service staff.  I was asked to lay out my history as an MSG-sensitive migraine patient, and explain what MSG had done to me during prior hospitalizations.  They had little prior knowledge of this problem, and expressed concern not only for me, but for other patients who might be MSG-reactive.

Their concern was encouraging.  After the meeting, we all took a tour of the food storage and preparation areas.  With the list of hidden names of MSG, we noted all of the products containing MSG.  The meat and poultry products had been bathed in Hydrolyzed Protein (MSG) before flash freezing at the processing plant.  The Food Services Manager immediately telephoned the supplier on the spot and asked if the meat and poultry could be obtained without MSG.  She was amazed to learn that it was indeed available ...and at less cost than the MSG-treated products!  A few calculations later showed that this one change saved the hospital over $5,000 annually!

This hospital staff not only made certain my diet was safe during my confinement, but invited me to bring some home-cooked foods in freezer containers.  They installed a microwave oven in my room, and sent someone up to my room with the defrosted items as I requested them.  I answered many questions from Dieticians and nurses during my stay about how I prepared MSG-free food.  They indicated that their educational training never included information about the hazards of MSG.

The exceptional level of concern and problem-solving action taken by the Florida Hospital staff was comforting as well as amazing.  If you find yourself facing an upcoming hospital visit, why not try this same approach to avoid MSG reactions while you're recovering?