MSG food allergy?

[scuttlesnest]

Anyone been to Disney restaurants with an MSG reaction? Going in 04/12 & MSG (and all the other names it goes by) causes severe migraines for me, many have me ending up in the ER-- not a very magical experience! Just wondering how specific the ingredient list books are-- would they go into specific spices? Also can't have fresh yeast (breads & doughs etc), btu that one is typically easier to avoid.

& our ADRs for the trip (in case that helps) are at Hollywood & Vine, CRT, Chef Mickey's, Kona Cafe, Yak & Yeti, Crystal Palace & Boma.

 

[SueM in MN]

Problems with MSG are pretty common, so you should have no problem finding out whether food has it or not. I have also seen some menu signs that actually say “No MSG”.

 

[SDSorority]

Anyone been to Disney restaurants with an MSG reaction? Going in 04/12 & MSG (and all the other names it goes by) causes severe migraines for me, many have me ending up in the ER-- not a very magical experience! Just wondering how specific the ingredient list books are-- would they go into specific spices? Also can't have fresh yeast (breads & doughs etc), btu that one is typically easier to avoid.

& our ADRs for the trip (in case that helps) are at Hollywood & Vine, CRT, Chef Mickey's, Kona Cafe, Yak & Yeti, Crystal Palace & Boma.

We cannot have MSG either, or artificial colors/flavors/sweeteners. I have been told by every Disney chef I have talked to that they do not use MSG in the restaurants, but some of the pre-packaged items that are not Disney-made may have it in them, so you just have to read labels, just as you're used to doing at home. The chef at Raglan Road actually laughed at me when I told him that we could have MSG- he said "oh, haha, we don't use that here, no need to worry about that!"

So that was great.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I was looking at the information for Participants in the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Two items which are prohibited from any use are MSG and Peanut Oil. So you not find either of them at WDW.

 

[scuttlesnest]

Oh wow, that's awesome... does that include ALL forms of it? I get nervous that there will be hydrolyzed/ autolyzed ___ proteins etc...

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Here is the actual list

Prohibited Food Guidelines
Due to the increased risk of food borne illness, the use of the following foods is prohibited:

Raw beef, such as steak tartare and carpaccio
Raw fish, that is not sushi grade (e.g. ceviche)
Oysters served raw
Unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juices
Unpasteurized milk
Unpasteurized cheeses (that are not pre-approved)
Escolar (contains a strong purgative oil, called gempylotoxin, which may cause diarrhea when consumed)
Pufferfish or fugu (pufferfish can contain levels of tetrodotoxin that may result in death)
Alligator*
Raw sprouts that are not cooked prior to consumption
Taro leaf (all parts of the taro plant contain acrid principles due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals which are irritating to the mouth and esophagus)
Ti leaves
Banana leaves served uncooked
Stinging nettles (skin that comes in contact with fresh nettles will result in a temporary and painful skin rash)
Peanut oil
MSG

Foie Gras, Monkfish and Chilean Sea bass (unless certified by the Marine Stewardship Council), are also ingredients that we do not use at the Epcot®International Food & Wine Festival, and we are asking that your recipes do not include these items.

We encourage our chefs to purchase sustainably harvested seafood when possible, and to encourage them to visit the Seafood Watch web site for a list of the "Best Choices" fish selection.

 

[DannysMom]

My DH also gets migraines from MSG (not ER visit worthy, but can ruin a good day.) In 6 trips to the World he has never had an MSG reaction there. And since his reactions aren't disabling, just inconvienent, we never worked very hard to avoid it or even mention it as an allergy. So you should be good.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Among my DS's allergies is MSG- every single chef I have spoken to at WDW (and believe me, there's a lot) have said they do not use MSG at WDW.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Among my DS's allergies is MSG- every single chef I have spoken to at WDW (and believe me, there's a lot) have said they do not use MSG at WDW.

Not true. They do not ADD MSG into any foods. It was a WDW chef who corrected my understanding as I also thought there was no MSG in any of the food at WDW. When we stayed at Poly CL, the chef told DH who can't have MSG (only a minor reaction but it does ruin his day when consumed since it triggers acid reflux that makes him feel pretty sick) that the meatballs were off limits to him as they have MSG (they're made outside of WDW and are delivered frozen). I think I read somewhere that the hot dogs may have MSG or at least may have at one time. With frozen, premade foods, you need to check. Chefs will not add any MSG but it is found in a few select premade items.

 

[scuttlesnest]

Not true. They do not ADD MSG into any foods. It was a WDW chef who corrected my understanding as I also thought there was no MSG in any of the food at WDW. When we stayed at Poly CL, the chef told DH who can't have MSG (only a minor reaction but it does ruin his day when consumed since it triggers acid reflux that makes him feel pretty sick) that the meatballs were off limits to him as they have MSG (they're made outside of WDW and are delivered frozen). I think I read somewhere that the hot dogs may have MSG or at least may have at one time. With frozen, premade foods, you need to check. Chefs will not add any MSG but it is found in a few select premade items.

Ah ha-- that is what I was looking for... I know certain things to avoid (most soup w/ a chicken/ beef broth for example) , but it's the items that already have it in there... a lot of hotdogs do have it as well! I'll avoid meatballs & hotdogs just to be safe, thanks so much for adding this!

 

[WanderingOaken]

Hi
I know this post is old, but I was googling around and I registered just so I could write to ask the OP how it turned out... did you have headaches? What foods/vendors would you recommend and which would you avoid? I am pretty sensitive to MSG--get headaches and lethargy from just about all the forms of it, though for me it seems cumulative. By day 5 I'm sure to have a migraine unless I can make a plan. Thanks for any advice you can offer. I hate to ask to see the ingredients list for every last component of every last item on the menus.