[Droobfest]

I still think it's wrong to dismiss people's experiences out of hand and lump it all onto the racism pile.

So it's likely not the MSG, but maybe the chinese restaurants these people go to have a reputation for not being the freshest? This can raise histamine levels in the food and cause the same symptoms as an allergic reaction (which it basically is).

Whatever it is, there is no reason to assume the food intolerance itself is a lie..

[tptacek]

On the one hand, you think it's wrong to suggest there's racism involved in MSG's reputation tying back to "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome", and on the other hand, you offer an axiomatic derivation of Chinese restaurants being unhealthy ("histamines") because of their "reputation for not being the freshest".

[rrauenza]

To be fair, the poster said "the Chinese restaurants they go to..." Not necessarily all.

But it's a weak argument...

I wonder how much is from blood sugar spikes from white rice and everyone's favorite Americanized sugar glazed Chinese dishes combined with the MSG nocebo effect.

[CivBase]

Where I'm from, Asian cuisine is not very popular with older generations - probably because they didn't grow up with it. It has only recently garnered enough popularity to establish successful chains (aside from highly Americanized options like Panda Express, PF Changs, or HuHot).

Small, independent, "Ma & Pa" type restaurants vary much more in quality than established chains. When your only options for Asian food are those kinds of restaurants - and a limited selection at that - it's not surprising for bad quality to sometimes be associated with the cuisine.

I still have to drive far out of my way to find good Indian food, despite living in a metropolitan area. Which is a shame, because I really enjoy it.