I'd like to have a few questions answered from Mountain House.. My e-mails seem to go missing....
Why is MSG ( by name or it's "other" names) in any of it's products?
Why does sodium figure so high in some entrees?
Surely we don't need preservatives in FD foods, and salt can be added by the end user to their tastes. I'd prefer to start off bland and build from there.
MSG and it yeast-name derivatives simply have no place.
Jericho,
Thanks for your questions.
Mountain House hasn't added MSG to products in a number of years, but you are correct that there are other ingredients that contain free glutamic acid. The short answer to your question is simply this: "flavor". (You are spot-on that neither sodium nor free glutamic acid is necessary for preservation in freeze dried foods.)
Free glutamic acid provides a savory flavor enhancement often called "umami" and naturally occurs in many foods, such as cheese, seaweed, mushrooms, tomatoes, and soy sauce. As you point out, it is also found in yeast extracts, hydrolyzed proteins, and elsewhere. Foods with "umami" are perceived as richer tasting and more satisfying.
Regarding sodium, the original reason for the elevated sodium content is that Mountain House foods were initially created for outdoor enthusiasts who required greater sodium levels for adequate hydration for their greater physical exertion.
History also plays a role, in that many Mountain House recipes were created in an era when sodium was very common as an ingredient in larger quantities than it are today.
That said, our newer recipes tend to have less sodium (e.g., our low-sodium line) as well as less free glutamic acid. But it is a slow transition in that direction, especially since so many customers love our older recipes just the way they are...
Basically, we've tried to provide options for a wide variety of our customers.
One thing to note is that our sodium levels -- at 300 mg to 800 mg per serving -- are frequently lower than many other brands in the market whose products clock in at 800 mg - 2900 mg (!) per serving.
In closing, we always recommend that customers determine which factors are most important to them (e.g., sodium, weight, flavor/texture, shelf life, variety, etc.) and gather as much information as possible about the products they're considering.
Every customer has a unique set of needs and we want to help you determine how Mountain House products can work for you. And if they don't, for whatever reason, we may be able to help you find a reputable source for products that will.
Thanks again for your questions!