Food - Drink

Why You Should Read The Label The Next Time You Buy Kewpie Mayo

By CLARICE KNELLY

Kewpie is a Japanese mayonnaise with a smoother and richer flavor than most of the mayos found in the States. As the condiment’s popularity has risen, it has become easier to source Kewpie in the U.S.; however, there is a big difference between the Kewpie mayo made for the Japanese market and the one sold in America.

Japanese Kewpie mayo contains MSG, which is swapped out for yeast extract in the U.S. version. MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a popular food additive that has been plagued by myths of being bad for the body, yet the Food and Drug Association and countless studies have found MSG to be completely safe, not to mention tasty.

According to Food & Wine, MSG is why many ingredients are delicious, including foods like tomatoes, cheese, and edible seaweed, in which it naturally occurs. It is for this reason chefs love MSG’s umami flavor, a “fabulous savory fifth taste,” with some of them commonly using MSG Kewpie mayo as a “flavor boost” in their dishes.

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