E621 / Flavour enhancers
Monosodium glutamate
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: Self-reported MSG sensitivity in some individuals..
- 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
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring amino acid, used as a flavor enhancer to add a savory umami taste to soups, snacks, seasonings, and processed foods. Decades of research by EFSA and the FDA have found it safe for the general population at typical intake levels. A small subset of people report short-term symptoms like headache or flushing after eating large amounts, though controlled trials have not reliably reproduced this reaction.
Also appears on labels as: Monosodium glutamate, MSG, E621, E 621, E-621, INS 621, Sodium glutamate, Sodium salt of glutamic acid, Glutamate monosodium, Ajinomoto, Flavour enhancer 621, Food additive E621.
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.
- A minority of individuals report transient symptoms (headache, flushing, sweating) after consuming large amounts, sometimes called 'MSG symptom complex,' though evidence for a consistent causal effect is weak.
- Contributes to overall sodium intake, relevant for people managing blood pressure.
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.
- Monosodium glutamate: a comprehensive review of safety data — Walker R, Lupien JR, Food and Chemical Toxicology (2000). A comprehensive review of the safety data on monosodium glutamate (MSG) conducted for regulatory agencies worldwide. The review examined toxicological studies, epidemiological data, and reported adverse reactions. The authors concluded that MSG is safe for the general population when consumed at typical dietary levels, with no evidence of serious adverse effects.[safe]
- Analysis of adverse reactions to monosodium glutamate (MSG) — Geha RS, Beiser A, Ren C, Patterson R, Greenberger PA, Grammer LC, Ditto AM, Harris KE, Shaughnessy MA, Yarnold PR, Corren J, Saxon A, Journal of Nutrition (2000). A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple-challenge evaluation of reported reactions to monosodium glutamate (MSG). The study found that large doses of MSG given without food may elicit more symptoms than placebo in individuals who believe that they react adversely to MSG. However, the frequency of the responses was low and the responses were inconsistent and were not reproducible.[safe_in_moderation]
Country rules
Country checks for E621
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 E621: Monosodium glutamate. 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 E621 (Monosodium glutamate) 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 | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| 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 | A separate Canadian food provision applies Health Canada explicitly treats monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a food ingredient, rather than a regulated food additive. It still has to be declared in the ingredient list, including when present in a flavouring or spice mixture. EatMatrix reading: Read the ingredient declaration. An absent entry in the 15 additive lists is expected for this classification and is not evidence of a ban or lack of testing. 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: Monosodium glutamate. 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 E621. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 4 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 E621
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: Monosodium glutamate.
- 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 E621?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E621 (Monosodium glutamate) 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 E621 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Monosodium glutamate — 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 E621 and why is it used?
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring amino acid, used as a flavor enhancer to add a savory umami taste to soups, snacks, seasonings, and processed foods. Decades of research by EFSA and the FDA have found it safe for the general population at typical intake levels. A small subset of people report short-term symptoms like headache or flushing after eating large amounts, though controlled trials have not reliably reproduced this reaction.
Does E621 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Monosodium glutamate, with a caution: Self-reported MSG sensitivity in some individuals..
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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.