E620 / Flavour enhancers
Glutamic acid
Safety in brief
Safe in moderation
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- Recorded sensitivities: Some individuals self-report sensitivity to glutamate-containing additives..
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Glutamic acid is a naturally occurring amino acid found in many protein-rich foods, including meat, dairy, and vegetables, and is used by the body to build proteins. As a food additive, it is used as a flavor enhancer for its savory umami taste, and it is also the precursor used to manufacture monosodium glutamate (MSG). It is approved by EFSA and the FDA as safe for consumption.
Also appears on labels as: Glutamic Acid, L-Glutamic Acid, DL-Glutamic Acid, Glutamate, Sodium Glutamate, Monosodium Glutamate, MSG, E620, E 620, E-620, Glutamic Acid Sodium Salt, Glutamic Acid Monosodium Salt.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- Caution
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Generally recognized as safe at typical food use levels.
- As with other glutamates, some individuals report sensitivity (e.g., headache, flushing) though controlled studies have not consistently confirmed a causal link at normal intake levels.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Safety assessment of glutamic acid and its salts for use as food additives — Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), WHO Technical Report Series (2019). The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) evaluated the safety of glutamic acid (E 620) and its salts including monosodium glutamate (E 621), monopotassium glutamate (E 622), and calcium diglutamate (E 623). The committee concluded that these substances are safe for use as food additives at current levels of consumption and established an ADI of not specified.[safe]
- 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 — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2017). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E620
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E620: Glutamic acid. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E620 (Glutamic acid) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Selected US conditions for Glutamic acid Official federal text current through ; read . Food uses, limits and exceptionsNamed preparation and use conditions This section recognises glutamic acid for use as a salt substitute under good manufacturing practice. It is a named function, not a conclusion about every glutamate salt or every intended use. EatMatrix’s reading: a legal use condition answers where and how an ingredient may be used. It is not a test of your product, a personal safe intake or a claim that the ingredient benefits your body. Match the named substance, food and amount. Other federal provisions, food standards, state rules and later changes may also apply; this is a selected source review, not a complete product-compliance decision. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Exact use and legal category need confirmation No exact named row was found for this glutamic-acid or glutamate preparation. CFIA excludes amino acids and flavouring preparations from the additive definition except applicable listed uses. Health Canada explicitly classifies MSG separately, but that statement does not establish the classification or specifications of every glutamate salt. EatMatrix reading: Match the exact acid or salt, food purpose, ingredient classification and applicable food standard. Do not copy MSG’s legal conclusion to another salt. Name and category review: . This describes the legal source check, not a finding that the ingredient is safe, unsafe or untested. Sources and names checkedNames checked: Glutamic acid. All 15 Health Canada permitted-additive lists were checked by exact name, with the reviewed alternatives above. E-numbers alone are not Canadian ingredient names. The Justice Canada consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026. A complete product decision also requires its composition, specifications, intended food and use, quantities, applicable separate provisions and any later changes. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Official assessment sources
- Commission-listed EFSA references for E620. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 2 research links; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe in moderation |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe in moderation |
Official assessment sources for E620
The European Commission’s re-evaluation table lists official EFSA documents for this additive. Their identifiers and subjects were checked against publisher bibliographic records. A missing research link in the EatMatrix database does not mean the additive has never been assessed.
Name in the Commission table: Glutamic acid.
- 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
EFSA scientific opinion. Published: .
These are assessment references, including historical or group assessments. They do not establish the latest scientific conclusion, a human health benefit or risk, or current permission to use the additive in a particular food. Later assessments, corrections and food-use conditions need separate review. The recorded EatMatrix rating above is unchanged.
European Commission re-evaluation table, status as of . EatMatrix checked this bibliography on .
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E620?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E620 (Glutamic acid) is “Safe in moderation”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E620 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Glutamic acid — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E620 and why is it used?
Glutamic acid is a naturally occurring amino acid found in many protein-rich foods, including meat, dairy, and vegetables, and is used by the body to build proteins. As a food additive, it is used as a flavor enhancer for its savory umami taste, and it is also the precursor used to manufacture monosodium glutamate (MSG). It is approved by EFSA and the FDA as safe for consumption.
Does E620 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Glutamic acid, with a caution: Some individuals self-report sensitivity to glutamate-containing additives..
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.