The Ignorance, It Burns!

Overheard (in paraphrase) in the public transit system today:

A: I don't eat much processed stuff, lunchables, etc...they have all kinds of chemicals in them.
B: Oh yea, just look at the label!
A: Like MSG. Monosodium glutamate. It's like salt and sugar, but it's so bad for you. Sodium for salt, and glutamate is some kind of sugar.
B: There are people who are allergic to to MSG and they get migraines.
A: Yea, and MSG is everywhere - in sandwiches and meat and even this slurpy.

(Me: *wince, and gets off at the next stop so as to not tear a complete stranger's head off*)

Is chemistry education in Canada really *this* bad?

Incidentally, A and B look like young guys in their twenties or so.