msg is only as bad as table salt can be, maybe lesser. There is msg in many products, it goes by other names too. Japanese people live longest and are healthiest and they use msg. Whereas, the health scare is real, same is true for sugar and salt and many other ingredients in life. People have been observed to use more salt in msg free soup, so there goes the health benefits out the window. I think msg in moderation is ok unless you found you are sensitive to it. So do not be happy if you see some snack that goes "MSG FREE!" unless you look at the FATS, SUGAR and SALT content as well. :)). There are other killers as well out there and more deadly.