- The most prominent use of processed free glutamic acid
(MSG) in fertilizer, fungicide, pesticide, and plant growth enhancer
products
is called AuxiGro WP Plant Metabolic Primer (AuxiGro). According to the
label, AuxiGro contains 29.2% "L-glutamic acid" as an active
ingredient, 29.2% GABA as a second active ingredient, and 41.6% inert
ingredients.
In truth, however, AuxiGro contains more than 29.2% processed free glutamic
acid (MSG), because there is additional processed free glutamic acid (MSG)
in the inert ingredients, and inert ingredients -- even if poisonous or
carcinogenic -- don't have to be disclosed. We know from government
documents
that hydrolyzed casein (milk) protein & additional processed free
glutamic
acid (MSG) will be found among AuxiGro's inert ingredients. Based on
discussions
of AuxiGro's ingredients found elsewhere, we think that processed free
glutamic acid (MSG) makes up a little over 17 percent of AuxiGro's inert
ingredients.
-
- AuxiGro is manufactured by Emerald BioAgriculture
(formerly
known as Auxein Corporation) of Lansing, Michigan. On their Emerald
BioAgriculture
Web site Auxein/Emerald BioAgriculture tells us that:
-
- "AuxiGro, the first GABA technology-based product,
was test marketed in 1998 and has been in commercial use since 1999. Use
of AuxiGro at the proper timing results in enhanced flowering, increased
fruit size, greater yields (typically 10-30%), improved quality
characteristics
(e.g., increased sugar content) and disease suppression. AuxiGroô
is the first EPA registered commercial, naturally occurring product to
consistently offer this broad array of benefits on a wide variety of crops.
AuxiGro's high level of biological activity allows for low rates of
application
(generally 4 ounces per acre) and ease of application for the grower using
standard practices. AuxiGro is stable, with on-going studies now
demonstrating
a shelf-life in excess of two years under normal storage conditions. The
product is compatible with pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural
materials and is commonly tank-mixed with such materials for convenience
of application by the end user. AuxiGro provides a high rate of return,
at least 3:1, to the user." (Quote taken August 20, 2002)
-
- Note that while Auxein/Emerald BioAgriculture seems to
be proud of its product, Auxein/Emerald BioAgriculture also appears to
be concerned that if people knew that there was processed free glutamic
acid (MSG) in AuxiGro, they wouldn't want to use it. Emerald
BioAgriculture
doesn't say that in so many words; but we know that there is more processed
free glutamic acid (MSG) than GABA in AuxiGro -- yet nowhere on the Emerald
BioAgriculture Web site is there mention of glutamic acid, L-glutamic acid,
or processed free glutamic acid (MSG).
-
- Note, also, that Auxein/Emerald BioAgriculture calls
AuxiGro a "naturally occurring product." Industry places great
value on being able to call something "natural" or
"naturally
occurring," and has convinced large segments of the population that
"naturally occurring" means "safe" or "good."
We won't argue the fact that by industry definition, the processed free
glutamic acid (MSG) and GABA in AuxiGro are "naturally
occurring."
We must point out, however, that by industry definition, salmonella,
e-coli,
West Nile virus, and arsenic are "naturally occurring,"
too.
-
- There's a second AuxiGro Web page that contains
additional
information -- or, from our point of view, that contains additional
misrepresentation.
It's the original Web site of Auxein Corporation -- from before Auxein
and Mycotech merged to create Emerald BioAgriculture; and it appears not
to have been updated since the year 2000. It reads, in part:
-
- AuxiGroô Plant Metabolic Primer "AuxiGro Plant
Metabolic Primer contains 29.2% by weight, pharmaceutical grade, L-glutamic
acid. The L-glutamic acid used in AuxiGro is chemically and biologically
identical to that found in plants and animals."
-
- The essence of the campaign of half-truths and
misrepresentations
used to convince the public that use of processed free glutamic acid (MSG)
and AuxiGro are "safe" is found in these last two statements.
The statements are used for propaganda purposed by both Auxein/Emerald
BioAgriculture, manufacturer of AuxiGro, and Ajinomoto, Co., Inc., the
worlds largest producer of the food ingredient "monosodium
glutamate"
-- which contains processed free glutamic acid (MSG) that is very likely
identical to the processed free glutamic acid (MSG) used in AuxiGro. The
deception relies on the very high probability that the reader will come
away believing that the glutamic acid "used in AuxiGro is... identical
to that found in plants and animals." But that isn't true. The
glutamic
acid found in plants and animals is L-glutamic acid, only. Nothing more.
Nothing less. In contrast, the glutamic acid "used in AuxiGro"
is a manufactured product that contains D-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid,
and other contaminants in addition to L-glutamic acid. It may be true that
the L-glutamic acid used in AuxiGro and the L-glutamic acid found in plants
and animals are biochemically and biologically identical; but the glutamic
acid used in AuxiGro -- which is called L-glutamic acid -- is not
biochemically
and biologically identical to the L-glutamic acid found in plants and
animals
because the glutamic acid used in AuxiGro contains more than L-glutamic
acid. It contains contaminants.
-
- The Auxein Web page continues, telling us that:
-
- "L-glutamic acid, also called glutamate, is a
naturally
occurring amino acid found in all living organisms. All plants contain
large amounts of glutamate. Foods, such as milk, cheese, meat, tomatoes,
potatoes, peas and mushrooms, all contain glutamate (see Table 1). The
average American consumes about 11 grams of glutamate a
day...."
-
- "Table 1" is made up of a list of food items
reprinted from a chapter in a book published in 1979. Next to each food
item, the reader will find the amount of L-glutamic acid said to be found
in free form in those foods. The figures given in "Table 1" came
from a variety of studies, some of which were done long before 1979.
-
- In interpreting "Table 1," Auxein tells us
that:
-
- "The amount of [glutamic acid] applied to crops
as AuxiGro is extremely small compared to the amount of free glutamate
already there."
-
- Why is this discussion of "Table 1" deceptive
and misleading?
-
- First, we could, if we chose to, argue that the amount
of the glutamic acid applied to crops as AuxiGro is not extremely small.
We could point out that:
-
- 1. Amounts of free glutamic acid are given in milligrams
(mg) per 100 grams (g). The amounts of free glutamic acid given are
extremely
small.
-
- 2. The data given in "Table 1" come from a
chapter in a book published in 1979. The data were not original at that
time, but came from a variety of sources. Moreover, those data had been
collected years before, when methods used for analyzing amounts of free
glutamic acid were less precise than they are today, and amounts of free
glutamic acid would have been overstated.
-
- 3. Auxein/Emerald BioAgriculture provides no information
on the relationship between amount of AuxiGro applied to crops, the amounts
of processed free glutamic acid (MSG) left on the surface of crops and
absorbed into the crops, and the amounts of additional glutamic acid
generated
in those crops following application.
-
- 4. Auxein/Emerald BioAgriculture does not tell us how
much processed free glutamic acid (MSG) will be found in and on crops when
brought to market.
-
- We could make those arguments, but, the relative amount
of glutamic acid used in AuxiGro is relatively unimportant. The important
factor is the kind of glutamic acid used in AuxiGro.
-
- Any free glutamic acid found in crops that have not been
treated with processed free glutamic acid (MSG) will be L-glutamic acid,
only. L-glutamic acid does not cause adverse reactions in MSG-sensitive
people.
-
- Any free glutamic acid applied to crops in AuxiGro will
be processed free glutamic acid (MSG). In addition to L-glutamic acid,
the glutamic acid in AuxiGro will contain contaminants. Processed free
glutamic acid (MSG) causes adverse reactions in MSG-sensitive
people.
-
- Auxein/Emerald BioAgriculture can not demonstrate that
the amount of processed free glutamic acid (MSG) used in AuxiGro will not
cause adverse reactions in MSG-sensitive people. On the other hand, we
personally know a number of MSG-sensitive people who reacted to potatoes,
head lettuce, and broccoli treated with AuxiGro before any of us knew that
AuxiGro existed.
-
- Thus, the lie to "Table 1," if you will, is
that the glutamic acid in most of the foods listed in "Table 1"
is L-glutamic acid, only. (The exception is the cheese, which is a
manufactured
product.) L-glutamic acid does not cause adverse reactions in MSG-sensitive
people. The glutamic acid applied to crops as AuxiGro is a manufactured
product that contains D-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and other
contaminants
in addition to L-glutamic acid. The glutamic acid applied to crops as
AuxiGro
is the same glutamic acid found in the food ingredient called
"monosodium
glutamate." It causes adverse reactions in MSG-sensitive
people.
-
- There is one more deceptive and misleading statement
on the Auxein Web page that we would like to expose. That statement
reads:
-
- "To the human body, glutamate from any source is
the same."
-
- Here, in typical industry fashion, the word
"source"
is not defined.
-
- To the human body, L-glutamic acid coming from
unprocessed,
unfermented, unadulterated corn protein is identical to L-glutamic acid
coming from unprocessed, unfermented, unadulterated milk protein or
unprocessed,
unfermented, unadulterated fish protein, for example. The food (sources)
from which the processed free glutamic acid (MSG) comes doesn't seem to
matter. However, truly natural glutamic acid (the glutamic acid found in
plants and animals -- which is L-glutamic acid, only) is not the same as
manufactured glutamic acid (which contains D-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic
acid, and contaminants in addition to its L-glutamic acid.) The way in
which the processed free glutamic acid (MSG) has been manufactured
determines
what contaminants will accompany the L-glutamic acid.
-
- We mentioned previously that there is no mention of
glutamic
acid, L-glutamic acid, or processed free glutamic acid (MSG) on the Emerald
BioAgriculture Web page. It is interesting to note the while Federal
Register
notices included the fact that there is processed free glutamic acid (MSG)
in AuxiGro, the sales literature on the Auxein Web page did not mention
the fact that AuxiGro contains free glutamic acid until the Truth in
Labeling
Campaign began to broadcast that information. In November, 1999, Auxein
added deceptive, misleading, and untrue statements in an elaboration of
the Product Page on its Web site, wherein they essentially make the untrue
assertion that the glutamic acid used in AuxiGro is chemically and
biologically
identical to that found in plants and animals.
-
- Finally, in testimony to its safety, a copy of the
AuxiGro
label from the Auxein 2000 Web page included the following:
-
- "PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS HAZARDS TO HUMAN AND
DOMESTIC
ANIMALS - CAUTION"
-
- AuxiGro, the first plant "growth enhancer"
to hit the market, has been approved for spraying on every crop we know
of. Even before consumers had an inkling that crops were being sprayed,
the Truth in Labeling Campaign received reports that MSG-sensitive
consumers
had gotten sick from russet potatoes, head lettuce, and broccoli -- produce
that had been approved for spraying with AuxiGro.
-
- http://www.msgfacts.net/AuxiGro.htm
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