White, practically odourless crystals or crystalline powder.

Be Awesome. Write a better description.

The function(s) performed by the food additive when used in cooking.

  • Flavour enhancer - Improves the taste and/or aroma of foods

This object doesn't have any images associated with it. Submit some to improve results.

Data according to various sources such as fao, fda, codex. Spot a mistake? Tell us!

Country Status Matched Term
United States
Approved Monosodium glutamate
European Union
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Australia and New Zealand
Approved Monosodium L-glutamate or MSG
Philippines
Approved Monosodium Glutamate, L-
Austria
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Belgium
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Bulgaria
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Cyprus
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Czech Republic
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Denmark
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Estonia
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Finland
Approved Monosodium glutamate
France
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Germany
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Greece
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Hungary
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Ireland
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Italy
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Latvia
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Lithuania
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Luxembourg
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Malta
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Netherlands
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Poland
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Portugal
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Romania
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Slovakia
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Slovenia
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Spain
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Sweden
Approved Monosodium glutamate
United Kingdom
Approved Monosodium glutamate
Australia
Approved Monosodium L-glutamate or MSG
New Zealand
Approved Monosodium L-glutamate or MSG

show more

Aggravates food intolerances - yes

E621 - Monosodium L-glutamate: From the Food Intolerance Network fact-sheet titled 'How to start failsafe eating: a step by step guide'.

Food Intolerance Network

Halal - maybe

E621 - Monosodium L-glutamate: Suitable for vegetarian label on the package indicates the source of Monosodium Glutamate is from vegetable protein or it has to be under Halal or kosher certification. In USA/Canada it is kosher certified and meet the Halal requirements. Monosodium Glutamate can also be obtained from yeast. But if yeast is grown on pork media then it is Haram. It happened in Indonesia few years back when Monosodium Glutamate is produced using pork fat media to grow yeast by Ajinomonto Indonesia. As it was reported on our website.

Muslim Consumer Group

Aggravates food intolerances - yes

E621 - Monosodium L-glutamate: Commercially prepared from molasses by bacterial fermentation. Added to any savoury processed protein food. In cigarettes and animal food. In over 10,000 foods in USA. Flavour enhancer derived from the fermentation of molasses, salt substitute; adverse effects appear in some asthmatic people, should not be permitted in foods for infants and young children as it could damage the nervous system. Typical products are canned vegetables, canned tuna, dressings, many frozen foods. To be avoided. It could kill nerve cells, resulting in diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Pregnant women, children, hypoglycaemic, elderly and those with heart disease are at risk from reactions.

MBM Foods

Aggravates food intolerances - yes

E621 - Monosodium L-glutamate: NOT SAFE FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN. Heart palpitations, Headaches, Dizzyness, Muscle tightening, Nausea, Weakness of the upper arms, Neck pain, Migraine, Hyperactivity, Asthma, Urticaria, Insomnia. As this substance is not suitable for babies under six months we suggest it would be advisable for pregnant and lactating mothers to avoid it also unless/until it is proven safe in these circumstances. Can cause adverse reactions, allergies, aspirin sensitivity, obesity and up to 40% increase in apetite.

Angelfire-Food Intolerance, Allergies and Adverse Reactions

Genetically engineered - yes

E621 - Monosodium L-glutamate: Glutamates are produced from glutamic acid in a variety of industrial processes. In recent years, biotechnological processes have gained in significance. It may be assumed that genetically modified micro-organisms (Corynebacterium glutamicus) have been used in the manufacture of glutamic acid. Global market leaders in the production of glutamic acid are Japanese concerns. With regard to the organisms and the genetic processing used in Japanese production, no details are known globally. As is the case with all fermentation processes, the employed micro-organisms utilise specific nutrients. Examples of such may be starch or glucose from maize, which may stem from genetically modified plants.

GMO Compass

Aggravates food intolerances - yes

E621 - Monosodium L-glutamate: Flavour enhancer derived from the fermentation of molasses, salt substitute; adverse effects appear in some asthmatic people, not permitted in foods for infants and young children; typical products are canned vegetables, canned tuna, dressings, many frozen foods

DFlock

MSG
Sodium glutamate
L-glutamic acid monosodium salt
laevo-glutamic acid monosodium salt
glutamic acid sodium salt
m.s.g.
sodium 2-amino-5-hydroxy-5-oxopentanoate
sodium glutamate
sodium hydrogen glutamate
Sodium L-glutamate
sodium laevo-glutamate

Collection of sources used to create this food additive summary.

Source
Codex Alimentarius
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives)
UK Food Guide
UK Food Standards Agency
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Lists the U.S. CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) registry number and EINECS (European INventory of Existing Commercial chemical Substances) numbers when known.

  • CAS Number: 142-47-2
  • EINECS Number: 205-538-1
comments powered by Disqus