New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- For decades, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), popularly known as Ajinomoto in India, has been the controversial villain of the kitchen pantry. Linked to a myriad of unverified health scares, it has been widely shunned by health-conscious consumers.

However, as culinary science evolves and people turn back to home cooking, food scientists and culinary experts are setting the record straight: MSG is not only safe but may also be the key to healthier, more flavourful meals.

Dr Jamuna Prakash, Food Consultant and Former Professor at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore, told LiveMint that the reluctance towards MSG is a classic example of how public perception can outpace and ignore scientific ...