Autolyzed Yeast Extract

[shel]

Recently I purchased a couple of packages of "organic, low fat, low salt" chicken stock to continue my taste testing of prepared stocks. The ingredient list contained autolyzed yeats extract.

According to more than one source, autolyzed yeast extract is "the primary source of monosodium glutamate for the food industry," and MSG actually adds to the salt to food. However, not being NaCl, neither autolyzed yeast extract nor MSG have to be listed as salt in the product's nutritional information thereby disguising the true salt content of the product. Is this correct?

Are there any other health or dietary concerns surrounding autolyzed yeast extract?

shel

[phatch]

The Nutrition Info panel reports total Sodium, not salt. So yes, the MSG/Autolyzed Yeast's impact would be recorded with the Sodium on the panel. MSG only has about 1/4 the sodium of the same volume of salt however so it's not as strong of a contributor. The trick is that AY doesn't list out as an MSG source so people with that sensitivity have to watch out for it. I think it's also a gluten source or at least has flour byproducts in it too?

There are ways that extra ingredients creep into food that's not recorded on the panel. The story I remember is about a mini frozen pizza. It reported a fat content of X but really had a higher fat content of Y because it picked up an edible lubricant fat from the conveyor and transport system in the factory. Similar things happen with release agents like spray oil and flour.

Phil

[Ma Facon]

"All natural" claim on food labels is often deceptive; foods harbor hidden MSG and other unnatural ingredients