Does Popeye use MSG? (chicken, turkey, chips + more)
Your favorite mouthwatering Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich and other fries are prepared with a range of ingredients developed by the company’s kitchen division.
So if you’re allergic to chemicals and wondering if Popeyes’ chicken contains chemicals, primarily whether Popeyes uses MSG, here’s everything you need to know!
Will Popeye use MSG in 2022?
Popeyes to use monosodium glutamate (MSG) in its chicken in 2022. However, the company is planning to drop it. This restaurant uses MSG in almost all menu items to add flavor. Currently, Popeye has rolled out steps to get rid of MSG. The company aims to ensure this is achieved by the end of 2022.
If you want to learn more about Popeye’s use of MSG, if chicken has MSG, why restaurants decided not to use MSG, and more, keep reading!
Does Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich have MSG?
Popeyes relies heavily on the MSG additive in chicken sandwiches to enhance the flavor. That said, MSG is a sodium salt derived from an amino acid called glutamic acid.
In general, MSG enhances saltiness and the pleasantness of saltiness, while also triggering the umami (sweet, sour, salty) flavors of the broth.
Why did Popeye plan to ban MSG?
Generally speaking, Popeyes plans to ban MSG because it wants to produce what it calls positive food.
Additionally, customer feedback has put MSG in the spotlight as it is responsible for the so-called “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome,” which causes health problems for Popeyes’ customers.
That said, symptoms of “Chinese restaurant syndrome” include:
- severe headache
- fever
- Flushing
- Numbness in the body, especially in the face and neck
- palpitations
- nausea
- chest pain
- Insomnia
Because of these health effects, Popeyes has launched a plan to eliminate MSG, first by removing all colors, flavors and preservatives from its menu items by the end of 2022.
How to tell if Popeyes Fried Chicken contains MSG?
Experiencing “umami” – the sweet, salty and sour taste of your Popeyes menu every time you eat it, is one of the best ways to identify if your Popeyes contains MSG.
In addition, Popeyes identifies this chemical by name or MSG food additive code 621 in the ingredient list on most of its packaged food labels.
Also, despite Popeye’s bold step to flag MSG’s presence in its menu items, most manufacturers either hide it or use concealment to seal the MSG’s identity.
Also, MSG is made by protein hydrolysis or bacterial fermentation. Therefore, any mention of hydrolyzed protein or yeast in the ingredient list indicates the presence of MSG.
Likewise, MSG manufacturers often use alternative names to disguise the presence of additives in their prepackaged products.
Additionally, manufacturers sometimes use nonspecific terms such as “natural flavors,” “vegetable flavors,” and even “flavor enhancers,” which are often made from MSG.
How do you know if you’re allergic to Popeye’s MSG?
If you start experiencing short-term and mild symptoms (headache, fever, and nausea) after taking three or more grams of MSG, you most likely have an allergy.
Does Popeyes use MSG in its Turkey?
Popeyes’ Cajun turkey contains MSG, a flavor-enhancing chemical. That said, the company argues that the additive gives fried chicken its so-called umami flavor.
Plus, the combination of MSG and Louisiana Seasoning’s signature blend makes Popeyes Cajun Turkey spicy, crispy, and incredibly delicious.
Does Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich have MSG?
Popeyes fast food restaurant serves delicious chicken sandwiches and MSG-rich condiments.
Plus, Popeyes’ sauces contain MSG, which adds flavor to the entire meal, bringing saltiness and spiciness.
Also, in the US, you can hardly find a fast food chain that uses real ingredients like chicken and flour to make chicken sandwiches without MSG additives.
Despite the tradition of artificial flavors on fried chicken menus, the U.S. fast food industry, including Popeye, has pledged to offer MSG-free chicken sandwiches by the end of 2022.
Which Popeye foods are high in MSG?
At Popeye, foods like real chicken breast, artisan tenderizers, catfish fillets, spicy chicken sandwiches, and onion rings are loaded with MSG.
In addition, Popeyes sauces that are very high in MSG include:
- ketchup
- mayonnaise
- Sweet and tangy BBQ sauce
- soy sauce
- mustard
- Buttermilk Ranch
Is Popeye’s Fried Chicken good to eat with MSG?
Unfortunately, Popeyes’ chicken sandwiches with MSG are not healthy.
That said, the popular sandwich packs a lot of calories (690), 42 grams of fat, and a whopping 1,443 milligrams of sodium, making it unfit for use.
How much MSG chemical is in Popeye’s fries?
Each serving of MSG-rich Popeye fries contains less than half a gram of the additive.
Which fast food chains use MSG?
MSG is the main ingredient most fast food chains use when making sandwiches and chicken nuggets. Besides Popeye, other fast foods that use MSG include the following.
- KFC
- Burger King
- Taco Bell
- Chick-fil-A
- zaxby’s
- McDonald’s
How to Avoid MSG in Popeye Foods?
Considering that Popeyes has publicly stated that if MSG is used as an ingredient, you can avoid it by ordering food without MSG or code number 621 as an ingredient.
To learn more, you can also read our post on Chick-Fil-A vs. Popeyes, Does Popeyes Have Pork in Gravy, and Does Popeyes Deliver.
in conclusion
Iconic fast-food restaurant Popeye has taken a controversial ingredient most often associated with Chinese food to enhance the flavor of its sandwiches.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a key ingredient in chicken sandwiches, despite fears it will disappear from huge fast food menus due to health-related complaints.
