About
What it is and where it shows up.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring amino acid found in many foods such as tomatoes, cheeses, and meat. It is added to food as a flavour enhancer, imparting a savoury or 'umami' taste.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
MSG is broadly considered safe for the general adult population and has GRAS status in the United States and an ADI of 30 mg/kg body weight per day set by EFSA. EFSA noted that dietary exposure to glutamates may exceed the ADI for high consumers, particularly toddlers and children, and recommends reviewing maximum permitted levels. Short-term mild symptoms such as headache, flushing, and palpitations have been reported in a small number of sensitive individuals consuming 3 g or more without food, but typical servings contain far less than this threshold.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (Australia) | Approved | Permitted additive (code 621); food manufacturers must declare MSG by name or code number 621 in the ingredient list on most packaged foods.source |
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Permitted under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008; general maximum use level of 10 g/kg of food (expressed as glutamic acid, covering E620–E625 as a group). EFSA 2017 re-evaluation derived a group ADI of 30 mg/kg bw/day and recommended reviewing current maximum permitted levels as dietary exposure may exceed the ADI for some population groups. ADI is expressed as glutamic acid for the group E620–E625.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Permitted as INS 621 under Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. Mandatory label declaration required: 'Contains added MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE — NOT RECOMMENDED FOR INFANTS BELOW 12 MONTHS AND PREGNANT WOMEN'.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Classified as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) under 21 CFR. Foods containing added MSG must declare it by name in the ingredient panel. No numerical ADI or maximum use level is imposed.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Infants — FSSAI labelling regulations explicitly state MSG is 'not recommended for infants below 12 months', and early JECFA evaluations excluded very young infants from the original ADI scope.
Pregnancy — FSSAI mandatory labelling requires products containing MSG to state it is 'not recommended for pregnant women', reflecting a precautionary regulatory stance in India.
Children — EFSA's 2017 re-evaluation found that estimated dietary exposure to glutamates may exceed the group ADI for toddlers and children even at medium exposure levels, prompting a recommendation to review maximum permitted levels.
Hypertension — MSG contributes dietary sodium; EFSA noted that doses associated with some adverse effects in humans include raised blood pressure, which is relevant for individuals managing hypertension.
Migraine — FDA has received reports of headache and similar transient symptoms in some sensitive individuals consuming large amounts (≥3 g) of MSG without food, though controlled studies have not confirmed a causal link.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1FDA. Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG). fda.gov
- 2PubMed. Monosodium glutamate as a tool to reduce sodium in foodstuffs: Technological and safety aspects. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3WHO. Monosodium L-glutamate — JECFA Monograph (WHO Food Additives Database). apps.who.int
- 4FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 — Compendium, 2021. fssai.gov.in
- 5EFSA. 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, 2017. efsa.europa.eu
Independently researched5 citations