Progresso removes MSG from all Progresso soups

MINNEAPOLIS Progresso is following the health trend and removing monosodium glutamate (MSG) from its soups. It announced yesterday that already 26 are MSG-free, and the company will gradually remove the additive from all 80 of its soups.

MSG has been added to foods as a flavor enhancer for decades, has no nutritional value and has recently been surrounded by health concerns.

Campbell’s should be feeling the pressure at this point. Progresso is already the leader in the ready-to-eat soup category, and this new marketing move could reflect poorly on Campbell?s. More than 90 of its soups contain MSG, according to Kyle Duea, marketing manager for Progresso.

“More than 3 million consumers have moved to great tasting Progresso soups in just the last two years,” says Jerry Lynch, vice president of marketing for Progresso. “We’re going to continue to focus on innovation and new products to help grow this category for our retailers, and consumer can rest assured that we will continue to deliver the same high-quality and great taste that they have come to expect from Progresso.”