Yes, really! It brings that umami flavor to the pretzel stuffing without adding more salt to an already salt-heavy dish. The anti-MSG messaging many of us in the United States grew up with originated in a since-retracted letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine and is deeply rooted in anti-Asian xenophobia and racism. In reality, MSG (monosodium glutamate) occurs naturally in foods like tomatoes, cheese, and soy extracts. If you've ever used "Accent!" seasoning, you've used MSG. Read more: "How MSG Got A Bad Rap: Flawed Science And Xenophobia," "An MSG Convert Visits the Church of High Umami," and check out the work Know MSG is doing to correct this narrative and return MSG to its rightful place on the table.