Food Infodemic Report

Explore the troubling impact that wild, widespread misinformation is causing

As the pioneer of MSG, The Ajinomoto Group knows the impact that misinformation can have. That inspired us to conduct a nationwide survey to better understand the causes and societal consequences of misinformation in the U.S. and identify actions to bring people back to food as a source of joy, exploration, and cultural connection. The findings from the study have resulted in The Food Infodemic Report.

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Food Infodemic Findings

The surprising stats and concerning impact of food misinformation

1 in 5 respondents avoid Chinese food because they worry about MSG
43% of respondents have never felt more uncertain about their food choices
71% of respondents admit to taking on food beliefs and behaviors that aren’t grounded in science
34% of respondents tend to avoid cuisines from certain cultures in order to eat healthy
57% of respondents changed their eating behaviors based on something they saw on social media
People are more likely to put garlic up their nose than check if a social influencer is qualified

Who we heard from

A closer look at the survey respondents, who were selected to be representative of the U.S. population

3 ways to be a more informed eater

Know the red flag phrases: clean ingredients, detox, secret remedy
Know the sources to trust: fda.gov, nutrition.gov, cdc.gov, registered dietitians
Know the actions to take: verify sources, ask questions, reflect on your own food beliefs

Yep, there’s still MSG misinfo

55 years after the term “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” was coined, The Ajinomoto Group continues to use science to debunk MSG myths and misperceptions

It's not possible for MSG to be an allergen
The International Headache Society removed MSG from its list of causal factors for headaches
MSG occurs naturally in many foods, such as tomatoes and cheese

Experts React

Dietitians, public health experts, and chefs respond to our report findings

Methodology

In the spring of 2024, The Ajinomoto Group fielded a 15-minute online survey in partnership with independent research firm YouGov. The survey was fielded from 4/24/24 to 4/26/24 among a representative sample of 3,034 U.S. General Consumers with a margin of error of +1.79% at the 95% level of confidence.

Download the full report