Veggie burgers often contain hidden MSG

Veggie burgers often contain hidden MSG

Whether you're a strict vegetarian or simply an omnivore seeking to lower your intake of animal protein, you may find vegetarian convenience foods, such as veggie burgers, a tempting addition to your grocery cart. Beware, however, as many of the most readily available brands of veggie burgers betray the healthy impulse that makes you reach for them in the freezer section. The recipes for most commercial veggie burgers rely on industrial ingredients that may put your health at risk.

As you read the following ingredients lists, keep in mind that yeast extract, hydrolyzed proteins and autolyzed proteins are all hidden forms of MSG, containing "free glutamate."

Boca

Boca is one of the most readily available veggie burger brands, offered even in many grocery stores without a health food section. The label for Boca Burgers All American Flame Grilled patties lists these ingredients: water, soy protein concentrate, reduced fat cheddar cheese (pasteurized part-skim milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, annatto (color), vitamin a palmitate), wheat gluten, corn oil, contains less than 2% of methylcellulose, hydrolyzed corn protein, wheat gluten and soy protein, salt, caramel color, cheese powder (cheddar cheese (milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), cream, salt, sodium phosphate, lactic acid), dried onions, yeast extract, natural flavor (non-meat), sesame oil, disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate, browned in corn oil.

Morningstar Farms

Another readily available brand of meat substitutes is Morningstar Farms. The company's website describes its Quarter Pound Burger this way: "Our biggest better-for-you veggie burger is a super-satisfying quarter pound of authentic off-the-grill flavor." The ingredients listed on the package are: textured vegetable protein (soy protein concentrate, wheat gluten, water for hydration), corn oil, egg whites, calcium caseinate, contains two percent or less of modified tapioca starch, onion powder, mixed triglycerides, canola oil, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (corn gluten, wheat gluten, soy protein), dextrose, soy protein isolate, natural and artificial flavors, salt, yeast extract, sugar, caramel color, whey*, methylcellulose, spice, garlic powder, maltodextrin, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, soy sauce (water, soybeans, salt, ethyl alcohol, wheat), autolyzed yeast extract, ascorbic acid, thiamin hydrochloride (vitamin b1), niacinamide, sesame seed oil, soy lecithin, iron (ferrous sulfate), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6), riboflavin (vitamin b2), vitamin b12.

Amy's

About.com's Vegetarian section lists Amy's Texas Burger among its "Top 5 Best Tasting Veggie Burgers." This burger contains: textured soy protein (hexane free), organic soy fiber, organic onions, organic mushrooms, wheat gluten, filtered water, organic tomato puree, organic bulgur wheat, organic celery, organic evaporated cane juice, organic carrots, organic oats, organic walnuts, sea salt, organic potatoes, organic apple cider vinegar, organic blackstrap molasses, organic bell peppers, expeller pressed high oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil, organic garlic, natural hickory smoke flavor, grain vinegar, ground mustard seeds, spices*, black pepper. Read more