Can MSG Cause Cancer?

MSG is widely known as one of the ingredients that can make food taste more delicious. Unfortunately, there is a presumption that mentions that foods containing MSG potentially cause cancer if often consumed. Is this assumption true?

Prof. health expert DR. Dr. Aru Wisaksono Sudoyo, SP.PD-KHOM who also serves as Chairman of Indonesia Cancer Foundation stated that MSG content does not cause cancer. It is a research from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) that reveals this fact. In this study, it is mentioned that MSG is still not proven to trigger cancer, but that does not mean we can casually consume it because if we do it excessively, then various tissues such as the pancreas can be damaged. In addition, MSG can also make the body's aging process becomes faster.

Instead of worrying about MSG, it's good we know the factors that cause cancer where 5 to 10 percent cause cancer is a genetic factor or offspring and the rest is environmental factors. For environmental factors alone, 30 to 35 percent of things that increase the risk of cancer is an unhealthy diet. Meanwhile, another 25 to 30 percent due to smoking habits, 15 to 20 percent due to infection, 10 to 20 percent due to obesity problems, and 4 to 6 percent caused by the habit of drinking alcohol.

Seeing this fact, dr. Aru also advise everyone to always maintain a healthy lifestyle such as maintaining a balanced diet with dietary levels, not smoking, not drinking alcohol, maintaining ideal weight, and always exercise regularly to keep the body healthy and not easily affected by cancer.