CHICK FIL-A:  An employee who suffers from MSG e-mailed this information:  "...Almost every bit of food contains MSG.  All the spices and breading that the chicken (both grilled and fried) is prepared with is loaded with MSG.  The potatoes are okay….the tea is okay since it's brewed fresh every day."  Thanks, Jessica, for helping us all to avoid MSG symptoms!!

ITALIAN RESTAURANTS:  In many small owner-operated Italian restaurants, the food is homemade and free of MSG.  Always distrust soups, unless you are assured by the chef that no soup base is used, and check salad dressing labels.

Many servers, and even some cooks, have no idea exactly what contains MSG.  Therefore, when you ask, watch for incorrect answers.  Some servers and chefs immediately respond that "we don't use preservatives in our food".  This means they know absolutely nothing about MSG or its hidden names.  At this point, you need to provide a list to the chef -- or ask to inspect the labels on the item you're thinking of ordering.  However, if you hear the words "We don't ADD any MSG to our food", this usually means they don't know what the food is treated with prior to its arrival in their kitchen.  If they resist your insistence on knowing exactly what's being served, your only choice is to go elsewhere.

I find that if tell them any MSG will cause a trip to the hospital with a migraine, servers and chefs will usually check carefully.

It's always wise to carry a card with the major names MSG is 'hidden' under in your wallet or purse.  This makes it easier for servers and chefs to check against food labels.  The NoMSG organization provides pocket-size cards that list the most prevalent names MSG is hidden under. (A link to NoMSG's website can be found on the "Downloading & Links" page.)

ALERT!!  ICED TEA Drinks:  Ask if it's "brewed iced tea" or if it comes from a mix or concentrate.  Only brewed iced tea is safe!  Once, when I forgot to ask if the tea was brewed, two sips of what turned out to be concentrate brought on a 4-hour headache.