Why do the Jennie-O turkey phone representatives insist that natural flavorings can never contain MSG when they often do?

Answer 1

I contacted Hormel, the manufacturer for "Jennie O" Ground Turkey. I exchanged 5 emails with "Jacki" a "Consumer Response Specialist" who would not give me a straight answers to my questions.

In my first email, I explained I have numerous medical food Allergies, so must be extremely careful what I eat. Below are my emailed questions, and the responses verbatim:

1) I asked "what specifically are in the "Natural Flavorings, and does it contain MSG"? Response: "the natural flavoring is rosemary".

2) I then asked "it is just Rosemary oil, or dried herbs... are there other ingredients, and does it contain MSG? I have to ask due to medical food allergies" The 4 word response: "It is rosemary extract".

3) I asked "what else is in the rosemary extract" and "does it contain MSG?" and "I will never buy a product from a company that will not honestly disclose all ingredients." The response: "I contacted our R & D department regarding the rosemary extract. There is no Monosodium Glutamate in the extract."

4) I replied: "Thank you for contacting your R&D department. I will try one more time to ask my question... I will try caps… WHAT IS IN THE ROSEMARY EXTRACT? Specifically what ingredients? Just Rosemary, or what else? Thank you."

5) The response: "I understand your question, NO CAPS NEEDED. I'm sorry, I have provided you the information that I am able to. Jacki, Consumer Response Specialist, Hormel"

So I can confirm that Hormel refuses to disclose all the ingredients in their "Natural Flavorings", which is something I've read on many other message boards, but wanted to find out for myself by giving Hormel the opportunity to be honest about their ingredients. They were not.

In the end -- I DID take a chance, and try "Jennie O 99/1 Ground Turkey". I got a migraine, tight chest, and all my sinuses swelled shut so I couldn't breathe. So there is definitely SOMETHING in there other than what Hormal refers to as "Natural".