E626 / Flavour enhancers
Guanylic acid
Safety in brief
Safe
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- 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
Guanylic acid (guanosine monophosphate, GMP) is a purine nucleotide that occurs naturally in foods like meat, fish, and mushrooms. It is used as a flavor enhancer, often together with MSG, to intensify savory umami taste in soups, sauces, and seasoning blends. It is approved by EFSA and the FDA as safe for consumption at typical use levels.
Also appears on labels as: Guanylic Acid, E626, E-626, E 626, Guanosine Monophosphate, GMP, 5'-Guanylic Acid, 5'-Guanosine Monophosphate, Guanylic Nucleotide, Nucleoside Monophosphate GMP, Guanosine-5'-monophosphate, 5'-GMP.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
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 a purine-containing compound, may contribute to uric acid production; people with gout or hyperuricemia are sometimes advised to moderate intake of purine-rich additives.
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.
- Metabolic fate and safety of ribonucleotides used as food additives — European Food Safety Authority Scientific Committee, Food Additives and Contaminants (2020). A detailed study on the metabolic fate and safety of ribonucleotides used as food additives, including guanylic acid derivatives. The research showed that these compounds are rapidly metabolized to normal dietary constituents (nucleotides and nucleosides) and pose no safety concerns when used at typical food additive levels.[safe]
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of guanylic acid–5′‐guanosine monophosphate (E 626), disodium 5′‐guanylate (E 627) and dipotassium 5′‐guanylate (E 628) as food additives — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS), EFSA Journal (2018). The Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provided a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of guanylic acid (E 626), disodium guanylate (E 627), and dipotassium guanylate (E 628) when used as food additives. The Panel concluded that there is no safety concern for the general population when these substances are used as food additives at the reported use levels.[safe]
Country rules
Country checks for E626
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 E626: Guanylic 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 E626 (Guanylic 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 | 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 | Exact use and legal category need confirmation No exact named additive row was found for this flavour-related ingredient. CFIA distinguishes flavouring preparations from food additives; a flavour-related E-number alone does not establish that the actual preparation qualifies for that exclusion. EatMatrix reading: Confirm the chemical identity, formulation and intended flavouring role under the relevant Canadian rules. Neither an MSG statement nor an NHP ingredient entry establishes food permission for this preparation. 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: Guanylic 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
- 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 |
|---|---|
| WHO | Safe |
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E626?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E626 (Guanylic acid) is “Safe”. 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 E626 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Guanylic 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 E626 and why is it used?
Guanylic acid (guanosine monophosphate, GMP) is a purine nucleotide that occurs naturally in foods like meat, fish, and mushrooms. It is used as a flavor enhancer, often together with MSG, to intensify savory umami taste in soups, sauces, and seasoning blends. It is approved by EFSA and the FDA as safe for consumption at typical use levels.
Does E626 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Guanylic acid.
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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.