
Many recipes call for "Accent Seasoning." Some people have it on their table, using it like salt. It is carried at many stores in the United States. Those who live outside the U.S., though, might have trouble finding it. Accent Seasoning is really just a brand name, so substitution should be readily available.
History
Accent seasoning is glutamate, also called "monosodium glutamate." Using glutamate in foods dates back to ancient Japan. Seaweed was used by cooks in Japan to give flavor to some types of savory foods. While no one knew what made it work, the seaweed brought a depth to the flavor. In 1908 a scientist (Professor Kikunae Ikeda of the University of Tokyo) decided to analyze the seaweed and discovered that glutamate was responsible for this flavor enhancement.
Glutamate
Professor Ikeda first isolated glutamate in the form of glutamic acid crystals. The substance is an amino acid and one of the key building blocks in protein. In order to be used as a seasoning, Professor Ikeda sought to create a water soluble substance that would resist humidity. His answer was to create a substance called "monosodium glutamate." It has a similar structure to crystallized sugar and salt, but the flavor essence of the glutamic acid.
Uses
Monosodium glutamate (and Accent Seasoning, since it is Monosodium glutamate) have been used in Asian cooking for a very long time (even before it was isolated into a seasoning). According to B & G Foods, it has also been "a 'secret ingredient' of many chefs for years." It can be used on nearly any type of meat, in soups and broths, on potatoes or rice and in sauces. It enriches the flavor palate.
Lower Sodium
As any chemistry student can probably discern, monosodium glutamate (the only ingredient in Accent Seasoning) is a salt. That means it contains sodium. Many people are on low sodium diets. Accent Seasoning might be a good alternative to salt for those individuals. The flavor is not the same as salt, but it can enrich foods in a similar way. It also contains 60 percent less sodium than salt.
Controversy
Many restaurants and products contain a statement like "contains no MSG." The statement has been added to products because some people have reported problems ranging from headaches to nausea, asthma attacks and heart palpitations. The Mayo Clinic, however, reports that no study has ever found a link between MSG (monosodium glutamate) and any of those symptoms. So, the current evidence doesn't support any long term or consistent health problems caused by Accent Seasoning.
Related Articles
What Is Accent Seasoning?

Low-Potassium Salt Substitutes

Nutritional Information for Johnny's ...

Uses of Saltpeter in Food

Salt Vs. Non-Iodized Salt

Uses for White Wine Vinegar

Does Boiled Ham Have Nitrites?

Difference Between Rock Salt and Sea ...

What Foods Provide Calcium D-Glucarate?

Side Effects of Monosodium Glutamate

How to Counteract the Bitter Taste of ...
How to Make Salt Brine

The History of Smoking Meat

What Can I Replace Adobo With in ...
Seasoning to Use in Place of Beau Monde

How to Cook a Whole Fish Jamaican Style

How to Find a Salt Substitute Without ...

A Gluten-Free Diet and Torula Yeast

How to Cook With Pork Jowl

How to Get Rid of the Acid Taste in ...