MSG plan `will kill eateries'

Fairfield Champion, 21 November 2002

PROPOSED health regulations requiring restaurants to declare if they add MSG to their food will hit Cabramatta tourism hard, says the suburb's business association president Dr Thomas Diep.

The regulations to be introduced in February impose fines of up to $2750 for eateries not carrying signs advertising the MSG content of their food.

"The regulations did not reflect the real content of MSG [because] many foods have natural MSG," Dr Diep said.

"Food without added MSG may have a high content of natural MSG [which] could still have an adverse effect on people who are allergic to MSG.

"The announcement of added MSG would not protect the customer."

Last week more than 120 restaurant owners signed a petition condemning the move at a seminar conducted by the Chinese Australian Forum.

The state government originally tried to get legislation passed requiring MSG to be identified by restaurants but this was rejected by the NSW upper house last month.

The government got it through by regulating it through NSW Health.

Fairfield's only Vietnamese-speaking councillor, Thang Ngo, has called on Cabramatta state MP Reba Meagher to tell the premier he is wrong on the MSG regulations because they will hit only small-restaurant owners.

"This will not protect the consumer because restaurant owners will still be able to use sauces which include MSG without having to declare it," he said.

"This legislation is just for people who add pure MSG into their cooking. It doesn't cover sauces that are added afterwards.

"The big food chains and fast-food outlets will not have to declare even if they have MSG in their sauces. There will not be one iota of increase in consumer protection.

"The government may have good intentions in regulating, however in the end it will devastate Cabramatta.

"Tourists are unlikely to go into any a restaurant that prominently displays signs that say they add MSG. With this MSG regulation we can kiss the tourists goodbye."