Ranch dressing is a popular condiment for salads, vegetables, chicken wings and more. Many people enjoy the tangy, creamy flavor of ranch. But some are concerned about potentially harmful ingredients like monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG.
What is MSG?
MSG is a common flavor enhancer added to many processed foods. It consists of sodium and glutamate, which is an amino acid found naturally in foods like tomato, cheese and meat.
MSG brings out the umami flavor in food. Umami is considered the fifth basic taste, after sweet, sour, salty and bitter. It makes foods taste richer and more savory.
MSG was first identified in 1908 by Japanese researcher Kikunae Ikeda. He extracted glutamate from seaweed and determined it was the ingredient that gave seaweed its unique savory taste.
Ikeda patented MSG and it became a popular food additive. Today, instead of extracting glutamate from seaweed, MSG is produced by fermenting starch, sugar beets, sugar cane or molasses.
Is MSG Bad for You?
MSG has been controversial for decades. In 1968, a doctor wrote a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine, coining the term “Chinese restaurant syndrome” to describe symptoms like headache, numbness and heart palpitations after eating Chinese food.
Since then, MSG has been blamed for causing headaches, flushing, sweating, facial pressure, dizziness, nausea and weakness in some people.
However, most health authorities say MSG is safe for consumption:
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies MSG as generally recognized as safe (GRAS).
- The European Food Safety Authority states there is no evidence of toxic effects from dietary MSG.
- Health Canada concluded that MSG poses no health risk for the general population.
A small subset of people may have short-term reactions to large doses of MSG on an empty stomach. But most people can consume moderate amounts with meals with no problems.
Is There MSG in Hidden Valley Ranch?
Hidden Valley is one of the most popular brands of ranch dressing in the United States. There are different varieties:
- Original Ranch
- Lite Ranch
- Organic Ranch
- Plant Powered Ranch
After closely reviewing the ingredients lists printed on the bottles, none of the Hidden Valley Ranch varieties contain added MSG.
However, they do contain small amounts of glutamate naturally found in ingredients like buttermilk, yogurt and Parmesan cheese. This type of “natural MSG” rarely causes reactions in people sensitive to added MSG.
Here are the ingredients lists for the main Hidden Valley Ranch flavors:
Original Ranch Ingredients
Soybean oil, water, egg yolk, distilled vinegar, contains less than 2% of: salt, monosodium glutamate, modified food starch, buttermilk, sugar, garlic, titanium dioxide (for color), natural flavor, dried onions, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid and calcium disodium edta (as preservatives), polysorbate 60, spice, disodium inosinate & guanylate, cream, lemon juice concentrate, dried chives.
Lite Ranch Ingredients
Water, soybean oil, corn syrup, buttermilk, egg yolk, distilled vinegar, modified corn starch, salt, onion, garlic, chives, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate as preservatives, xanthan gum, polysorbate 60, spices, calcium disodium edta to protect flavor, titanium dioxide (color), natural flavor.
Organic Ranch Ingredients
Organic soy milk, organic canola oil, organic cultured nonfat milk, organic white vinegar, organic honey, salt, organic onion, organic garlic, organic chives, organic black pepper, organic parsley, organic dill, organic lemon juice concentrate, organic sunflower lecithin, organic ground mustard, organic spices.
Plant Powered Ranch Ingredients
Water, canola oil, modified tapioca starch, coconut cream, white vinegar, coconut oil, pea protein, sea salt, garlic puree (garlic, canola oil, citric acid), onion puree (onions, canola oil, citric acid), corn starch, lemon juice concentrate, yeast extract, lemon peel, dried chives, dried parsley, cultured dextrose, citric acid, xanthan gum, mustard flour, chili pepper, sunflower lecithin. Contains: Tree nuts (coconut).
Other Popular Ranch Brands
Just like Hidden Valley, some other popular ranch brands also do not contain added MSG:
Ken’s Ranch
Canola oil, water, buttermilk, distilled vinegar, egg yolk, salt, contains less than 2% of: garlic, onion, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate as preservatives, propylene glycol alginate, xanthan gum, spices, polysorbate 60, calcium disodium edta added to protect flavor, natural flavor.
Marzetti Ranch
Soybean oil, water, egg yolk, distilled vinegar, buttermilk, salt, contains less than 2% of: monosodium glutamate, modified food starch, sugar, garlic, dried onions, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid and calcium disodium edta added as preservatives, polysorbate 60, titanium dioxide, natural flavor.
Marzetti Ranch does contain MSG, unlike Hidden Valley. So ranch lovers who wish to avoid MSG may want to choose a different brand.
Newman’s Own Ranch
Soy oil, water, egg yolk, white vinegar, sugar, salt, buttermilk, onion, garlic, natural flavor, dried onions, lemon juice concentrate, garlic juice, dried chives, citric acid , xanthan gum, disodium phosphate , sorbic acid.
Homemade Ranch Without MSG
Making homemade ranch dressing is simple. It only requires a few basic ingredients and takes 5 minutes to prepare. The result is fresh, tangy ranch free of MSG and other preservatives found in bottled dressings.
Here is an easy ranch recipe to try at home:
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1⁄2 cup buttermilk
- 1⁄4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk and sour cream in a bowl until smooth.
- Add lemon juice, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
- Store homemade ranch dressing in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Conclusion
After reviewing the ingredients, Hidden Valley Ranch does not contain added MSG. Some varieties like Original Ranch do include small amounts of natural glutamate from cultured dairy ingredients. But they do not list monosodium glutamate as an added ingredient.
Other major ranch brands like Ken’s and Newman’s Own also do not contain added MSG. However, there are some ranch products that do include MSG, so check labels carefully if you wish to avoid it.
Ultimately, homemade ranch made with simple, pantry-staple ingredients is the best way to control what goes into this tasty condiment.