Malic acid as a possible trigger?

I have an almost daily phantom smell of fumes/burning paper. But if I consume any MSG, that smell turns into the smell of stinky feet. I have been smelling feet all day today, and the only new thing I consumed yesterday was a Bai drink containing malic acid, which is described as a flavor enhancer similar to citric acid. Has anyone else noticed that this ingredient bothers them? I am just trying to narrow down what has caused this so I can avoid it in the future.