AdditivesE621 - Monosodium glutamate
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E621 - Monosodium glutamate
Open Food Facts additive identifier: en:e621
Flavour Enhancer
Vegan
Yes
Vegetarian
Yes
Risk Level
High
Description
Monosodium glutamate (MSG), or E621, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, an amino acid found naturally in many foods.
It is widely used as a flavor enhancer to provide an "umami" or savory taste to a variety of processed foods, including soups, snack chips, and frozen meals.
MSG is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by food authorities. However, some people report sensitivity to MSG, experiencing short-term symptoms like headaches and flushing, though scientific studies have not shown a consistent link.
Sources
EFSA Evaluation
Re‐evaluation of glutamic acid -E 620-, sodium glutamate -E 621-, potassium glutamate -E 622-, calcium glutamate -E 623-, ammonium glutamate -E 624- and magnesium glutamate -E 625- as food additives
Open EFSA source