What is HVP (Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein)?

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Since 4th March 2010 Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) got into the mainstream media because one of its largest producers in the United States - Basic Food Flavours Inc from Las Vegas - got a consumer safety warning announcement from the FDA. The FDA stated that Salmonella contaminated the company's HVP production equipment. Afterward a nationwide recall has been initiated. It includes products from McCormik, Trader Joe's, Safeway and a lot of other companies.

Here you can find the FDA list of recalled products.

What is HVP?

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein is a commonly used soy-based food "filler" to make literally thousands of processed food products. You will find in veggie burgers, gravy mixes, soups and many other grocery products, just have a look at the list of ingredients.

Most Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein is used by food production companies as an ingredient in mainstream processed foods. It shows up in thousands of grocery products -- and most consumers are not aware they're eating this ingredient.

It's a fact these days that many consumers are concerned and asking for the first time, "What's behind HVP?"

HVP is just one of many ingredients mentioned as a potential source of hidden monosodium glutamate (MSG).

MSG, of course, is a potentially dangerous neurotoxin used to flavor countless processed food products. It's used in soups, salad dressings, processed meats, gravy mixes, flavored snack chips and virtually every popular brand of beef jerky. It is considered an "excitotoxin" by Dr. Russell Blaylock, a neurosurgeon who has written extensively about MSG and its damaging effects on human neurology.

According to Blaylock, MSG can promote eating addictions, obesity, brain cancer, endocrine system disorders, infertility and many serious neurological disorders. That's why it's so disturbing that MSG is hidden in so many natural-sounding ingredients.

More information can be found on the below mentioned websites (daily updated).

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