So what exactly is MSG?
那么，味精到底是什么？
Well,Monosodium Glutamate contains seventy-eight point two per cent glutamate, twelve point two per cent sodium and nine point six per cent water.
味精富含78.2%的谷氨酸盐，12.2%的钠和9.6%的水。
Glutamate is an amino acid that can be found naturally in all protein-containing foods,erm, so this includes food such as meat and cheese.
谷氨酸盐是一种氨基酸，在所有蛋白质食物中可以找到。例如肉和奶酪。
It is widely known that Chinese and Japanese food contains MSG
众所周知，中国和日本菜使用味精，
but many people don't seem to be aware that it is also used in foods in other parts of the world.
但是很少有人意识到在世界其他地区的食物中味精也被广泛使用。
For example it is found in commercially made Italian pizzas, in American fast food and in Britain MSG is used in things like potato crisps.
例如，意大利比萨、美国快餐、英国炸薯条等。
So,how exactly does MSG work?
那么，到底味精是如何起作用的呢？
Well,in the Western world, we commonly talk of four 'tastes',and I'm sure you're all familiar with the concepts of sweet,sour,bitter and salt.
在西方世界，我们通常会说四种味道，即甜、酸、苦、咸。