For reasons unknown so far, Thai teenagers seem to be using the food additive MSG as a stimulant for s-e-x, but the nation's public health ministry seems to think that spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e.
After receiving a report claiming teens in the northern Chiang Mai province were mixing monosodium glutamate with carbonated soft drinks and drinking it as an aphrodisiac, the ministry took action of a sort, the Associated Press says. Too much MSG can cause nausea, numbness in the back and neck, and faintness, says deputy health minister Kamron na Lampoon in a news release cited by the AP.
The ministry has sent warning letters to all schools in Chiang Mai, urging teachers to monitor their students closely to stop them from becoming obsessed enough with sex as to practice unsafe sex and leave themselves prone to HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases, the AP says.
MSG is usually used in preparing Chinese and other Oriental foods and is found sometimes in other instant foods like canned soup and frozen dinners. But there's no explanation yet as to why the Thai teens believe MSG enhances their sexual prowess.
