Z GIRL wrote:

> I think the confusion here is in the word "allergic" . If someone were
> truely allergic they would go in anaphylactic shock if they injested
> monosodium glutumate. There are people whom are "sensitive" to MSG but most
> can eat a chinese meal. And there are others who might get a headache but
> that is not the same as a allergy


The word "allergic" is even more confusing than that.

It is possible to mildly allergic thus getting an allergic reaction
that's not an anaphylactic one. (Best example: Pollen allergies. The
sufferer sneezes and might take an antihistamine but doesn't need life
saving emergency care.)

One of the old 1950 vintage Emily Post etiquette books recommended using
the word "allergic" to mean "I don't care for any, thank-you." A doctor
wouldn't like that definition, but many people use it that way.

Then there's using the word "allergies" to mean any number of foods that
give unpleasant symptoms whether the cause is a true medical allergy or not.

As for the MSG question, I have an easy way around it. I don't care at
all WHY a guest or customer doesn't want an ingredient in their food.
In fact, I'd rather not know. If someone asks me to leave something out
because it will make them deathly ill or because they think it will make
them deathly ill (when I think they're wrong) or because it will make
them mildly uncomfortable or because they have a religious objection or
because they plain don't like it, I go ahead and leave it out, no
questions asked. For that reason, I prefer not to cook with MSG. Too
many people don't like it. (And besides, I'm personally allergic to it.)

--Lia