MSG is evil. Makes a lot of people sick. I was so happy when Campbells came out with their Healthy Request line which doesn't have it. As i wrote them years ago, "just throw another chicken in the pot, please. Don't cover up your economic rationale with 'taste enhancers'"

Jeez, they left out Ramen. I'd pissed if Ramen didn't have MSG.

I can't hear MSG without thinking of Teen Girl Squad!

Considering they're fighting for the new office of Soup Czar, I'm surprised it hasn't gotten actually violent yet.

How about a series of three debates between the can...didates?

STORE BOUGHTEN SOUP?

Well, la-dee-dah. Must be nice to be getting your chunk of the bailout, robber barons!

I haven't seen the Campbell's response ads yet, but the Progresso ads are here in New York City too. I buy my soup at BJ's and get whatever Progresso has in their 6-packs, but only if all 6 cans are 19 ounces. No grocery shrink ray for me!

I'm all for lower prices on anything. Bring it on. The soup war that is, not a depression.

Wow. Seems like the political world is mixing with the grocery world.

I mean, I've seen negative grocery ads before but this is like kicking a guy in the misters.

I wonder if this means the rise of a Soup Nazi party.

Yeah, we have this all over the Strib here in Minneapolis as well.

@madanthony: it was the ugly one got MSG'd, right?

@holocron: On that note, I'd like to see some Campbells vs Progresso ads a la Norm Coleman vs Al Franken, hehe.

I'm in the pro-MSG camp, that stuff is awesome, I love it. I have a shaker of it in the pantry. I have a tough time understanding how people don't like it.

@madanthony: Ow my stomach lining!

I saw the Campbell's TV ad the other day and thought WTF? It's obvious they're only talking about their new line of "soups" as pretty much all of their condensed ones are chock-full of MSG.

But just like political ads, they're full of 'truthiness'.

MSG actually occurs naturally in some foods, like Parmesan cheese.

I'll just continue to make my own soup.

For the cost of one can of soup, I can get a bag of egg noodles and some salt.

For the cost of a second and third can of soup, I can get a bunch of celery, a bunch of carrots, and a couple onions, all locally grown.

For the cost of a fourth and fifth can of soup, I can get a small chicken, locally raised and butchered.

Not only does it add up to more than 5 cans of soup, it also means I know exactly what I'm eating.

I know this is besides the point of the OP, but it's really only an issue because so many people lack simple skills to be able to bypass it altogether, right? If everyone knew how to make a simple pot of soup, it'd be a lot less pressing.

How could anyone support Progresso? Don't you know that a former 60's radical once attended a luncheon where Progresso soup was being served? Is Progresso soup going to come out and explain this connection? Will Progresso soup denounce this radical?

@flyingphotog: If it's lower prices you want, lower prices you'll get. Deflation starts in 5...4...3...2......

I love soup to a ridiculous degree, but it's pretty sad how Campbell's Healthy Request's "new and improved" packaging is just an attempt to distract everyone from the dreaded shrink ray.

@olderbudwizer: MSG makes my nose itch to the point where I'm scratching it raw.

@testsicles:

Because it makes people physically sick. Gives them hives and headaches, etc... I myself was fine with it for years. About four years ago I started getting sick and didn't know why... it was MSG. It causes an allergic reaction and I get hives. Sounds fun right! gotta love it! Well I hate it now... hope you never go thru it. Thing is I don't know what caused me to become allergic to it after 30 years. Might have been because I ate it all the time.

@backbroken: LOL! If that were a comment at DailyKos, I'd rec' it. Hey, Gawker Geeks (TM) - how about a comment rating system over here, just for fun?

It's also an unfamiliar and unpleasant texture for folks who didn't grow up with it.

I grew up eating ramen. MSG is second nature to me. It is not so for the entire population.

All canned soups use MSG or something like MSG so that they taste like soup instead of a can.

Still, it's interesting to see companies fighting for the bottom. Me, I'm too poor to afford canned goods.

I love the apples-to-oranges comparison in the Progresso ad! It makes no sense!

@sir_eccles: @sir_eccles:

Thats true and it can also be created in your body after eating something that doesnt have MSG in it. It's a weird one.

@MyPetFly: Bwhahahahahah!!! I love a pun...dit?

@CreativeLinks: No MSG for you!!

@backbroken: You know who supports Progresso? Do you know who???

*points*

That one.

@olderbudwizer: I actually had a bottle of MSG from McCormick when I was in college, looked like any other spice. I used that stuff on everything and it was delicious, however I haven't been able to find it for sale since.

MSG is harmless and delicious.

Mmm. Concentrated salt-broth in a can. Just add water!

Campbell's soup isn't like us. It pals around with terrorists.

@sir_eccles:

No, MSG does not occur naturally. Glutamate, however does. Mono-Sodium Glutamate is glutamate that is preserved in sodium to prevent it from breaking it down. The ill effects many people "feel" from MSG are also symptoms have having too much salt, which occurs in highly processed foods.

Also, Parmesan cheese is not natural: Parmigiana Reggiano or bust.

Well, that explains why Progresso tastes like garbage.

This type of advertising is wonderful! We should be very happy that advertisers are actually discussing aspects of their products in a competitive manner, and providing information to individuals. Think of how much advertising simply tries to impress upon you the idea that their product is consonant with your conception of your lifestyle! This is much more substantive.

@CrazyRedd: Which candidate is which soup, though?

@CountryJustice: Yea but do you know where that water for your stock has been? ;)

@CountryJustice: I'll be over with a note pad and an empty belly tonight!

@Jabberkaty: Damn straight my fellow poor brother!

My shopping list:
Ramen
Peanut Butter
Bread
Ramen

@Ms. Pants: RIMSHOT! Drumroll... RIMSHOT! RIMSHOT! RIMSHOT!

@backbroken: I can haz 90% discount on a Kuro? ;)

@hi:
@hapless:

Oh, I believe them, and I believe it makes them sick. My point was that it's a huge dichotomy for me to handle between the tasty stuff that makes my mouth water and people that find it repulsive and how it makes them physically ill. It'd be like someone holding a puppy and a kitten on a mountaintop immediately after a summer rain and seeing a huge arcing rainbow and shouting, "What a crappy day!"

@Jabberkaty: Alas, I've had to give up on sweet, sweet Ramen noodles because it gives me a headache every time now. Must be New! Improved! With Extra MSG! Or I'm getting older and less tolerant of such crap.

@Ms. Pants: I'm one humorless son of a bitch...and you just made me giggle.

@olderbudwizer: I've heard MSG is harmless, and that it naturally occurs in many foods. Is this true? I've seen many "western" recipes that call for soy sauce, which is mainly just added to give it a shot of umami, and I have to admit I've done added it myself to some recipes that don't call for it. I love it in vegetarian chili.

Yeah, but what are their foreign policy platforms?