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Facts and research about MSG, Sodium Nitrate & Sodium Nitrite

Think of the worst headache you've ever had, multiply it by 10, then add 77 toddlers playing the drums & trumpets at full volume, for an added bonus include violent vomiting.  That's what happens when I have these ingredients, so please, don't give them to me.

MSG and NaNO3 is bad for you, and while there are a substantial amount of amateur sites quacking about it and even some people that don't believe it is medically possible, this site at Truth In Labeling condenses all of the Medical Papers and tests down to a single serving. Long Version.  Short Version.

There are also several medical papers as well (blocked for most behind pay walls)
And of course, the wikipedia pages for each:
Bottom line is, I've done my own personal tests on me.  I have even "re-tried" some foods just to see if I'm still sensitive to MSG or Sodium Nitrates, and sure enough, I get a migraine every time.  Each migraine pill costs $45 making this an expensive headache too! (That is, if you can keep the pill down the first time.)

Restaurants using these ingredients and how to dine there without triggering your sensitivities

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Restaurant Name
 MSG
 Sodium
Nitrites
 Notes
Kentucky Fried Chicken
 X
Breading
Pop-Eye's
 X
Breading
Chick-Fil-A
 X
Breading (The grilled chicken is safe) - (3/05/2010)
Elephant & Castle
 X
Sauces
Applebees
 X
In just about everything, including the hamburgers (10/20/2010)

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Restaurant Name
 MSG
 Sodium
Nitrites
 Notes
McDonald's
X
 In the ham, surprisingly though, not in the sausage patties.
Chipotle
X
 The brown beans are cooked with bacon, everything else is safe.
Chinese Restaurants
 X
They used to be the worst offender.  Most are removing it from the menu, or will not use it if you ask.
Great Wolf Lodge
 X
 X
 MSG in the potatoes on the breakfast buffet, also sodium N in the usual places
Firehouse Subs
 X
 X
 I almost put these guys in the Avoid section, but they actually included my sensitivities in their allergen document, so I think they really deserve some credit in that department. Since we are dealing with a sandwich shop, we have to stay away from almost everything. Here are some notables:
Their sliced chicken and roast beef are safe along with their Tuna Salad, Brisket and Kid's Grilled Cheese. Avoid all of their soups and salads except for Chiefs Salad w/ Tuna Salad and Chief's Salad w/ Sliced Chicken. Make sure it is sliced chicken, as on their sheet it says the Chicken Salad has AYE / HSP in it. Thanks again to Firehouse Subs for making this information easy to find. Good on ya! (2012-07-21)
Epcot German Biergarden
 X
 X
 So this was incredibly surprising.  Because they get their sausages made fresh daily from a local butcher they don't need to put in all that usual crap / preservatives.  For that reason (at least for lunch) all of the hot sausages are sodium N free.  Stay away from the cold cuts.  Their ranch dressing also has MSG in it, and it is in the cucumber salad.  But for a place that I thought would be severly limited, it was actually quite nice.

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Restaurant Name
 MSG
 Sodium
Nitrites
 Notes
Whole Foods

Awesome to eat here and not have to worry about a headache.  Bacon, sausage & soup paradise.
Disney World, EPCOT & Animal Kingdom

Ask and they will tell you what to avoid.


A special note about Disney Properties.  If you let the hostess know that you have an allergy, the chef will come out to your table and discuss each menu item with you.  I've done this at 2 places so far, the German Biergarten, and the buffet in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  Both times I have met chefs that were extraordinary and VERY kind.  I also got some tips from them as to which were the best dishes and best sauces.  Both times I have been not only helped choose which foods to avoid, but even which foods to prefer (for taste).  So this is a big thumbs up to Disney (at least the World) for being SUPER allergy / sensitivity friendly.  Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi!