Does Applebees use MSG or something? - PaleoHacks.com

Does Applebees use MSG or something?

2011-10-08T06:41:34Z

I have been making great strides in cutting out any neofood or nonfood from my diet, and recently had to go out to eat at Applebees. I was certain that I made the right choice by getting a simple steak with shrimp and creme sauce with some steamed veggies.

But the veggies (broccoli, etc.) just didnt taste right. I mean they were GOOD, especially with butter on them, but they were too good, they actually tasted sort of sweet...

I suppose that it is possible I am becoming resensitized to dietary sugar to the point where standard steamed vegetables might taste sweet to me, but that seems unusual, and I sure didn't expect to see normal vegetables spike my blood sugar, but they did...

Is Applebees using MSG or some other sort of preservative I should know about?

Answer by Eric for Does Applebees use MSG or something?

2011-10-08T06:43:10Z

Likely something in the cream sauce.

Answer by FED at LiveCaveman.com for Does Applebees use MSG or something?

2011-10-08T14:19:38Z

I would be surprised if a place like Applebee's DIDN'T use MSG in their food.

For economic reasons, many restaurants, including full-service, sit-down restaurants like Applebee's have turned to centralized food distributors such as Sysco.

Sysco sends them their frozen chicken breasts, vegetables, sauces, etc. and the restaurant simply heats them back up.

It's an extension of the private labeling of other food products (i.e. "Happy-O's" in a bag vs. Cheerios in a box).

The obvious downside is that all the foods are prepared in advance and with the primary focus being transportability, stability, and consistency.

As J.Stanton on Gnolls.org wrote recently, "real food is not fungible".

Answer by The Loon for Does Applebees use MSG or something?

2011-10-08T14:33:28Z

I just assume that everywhere puts msg and sugars in the food unless it is printed somewhere on the menu.

Answer by Matt for Does Applebees use MSG or something?

2011-10-08T22:01:43Z

I'll agree with others - it's likely in there. But the $64k question is: should you care?

Answer by Patrick for Does Applebees use MSG or something?

2011-10-08T22:17:15Z

They do not put MSG on vegetables. I believe your concern may be with the cream sauce.

Answer by Jennifer for Does Applebees use MSG or something?

2012-03-30T13:02:59Z

I ate at Applebee's last night and had a healthy ?? spinach and grilled shrimp salad. Nice fresh ingredients, but the dressing had an unnaturally strong flavor. I woke up this morning with a headache - must be MSG! As for the $64,000 answer, if you don't know why MSG is bad for you, you have some reading to do.

Answer by JB for Does Applebees use MSG or something?

2012-09-05T23:33:00Z

I too am wondering about MSG (or one of the many ingredients that contain MSG) content in the Shrimp and Chicken dish at Applebees. I ate not quite half of the meal and I asked for a box as I started not feeling well. Before we could get home, I had to stop as I so sick with diarrhea to the max! Upon arriving home I called the manager and she advised they threw the box away so she could not tell me. And so far Applebees will not provide me with an answer. Their lawyers are saying it is "propriety" information and they can't tell me. Guess who won't be visiting Applebees anymore. By-the-way...I have not given up on trying to find out what they put in their dish. Anyone have any ideas...I just want to know so I don't get sick again. Gee what is the world coming to when you can't get straight answers anymore.