E640 / Flavour enhancers
Glycine and its sodium salt
Safety in brief
Use caution
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
Glycine is the simplest amino acid, naturally found in protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, dairy, and legumes, and is also produced synthetically for food use. As a food additive, glycine and its sodium salt are used as flavoring agents and flavor enhancers, contributing a mild sweetness and rounding out taste in some processed foods. It is generally recognized as safe by EFSA and the FDA at typical use levels.
Also appears on labels as: Glycine and its sodium salt, Glycine, Glycine sodium salt, Sodium glycinate, Glycine monosodium salt, Glycine sodium, Monosodium glycine, Aminoacetic acid, E640, E 640, E-640, Glycine food additive.
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-additive levels.
- Synthetic glycine used as an additive is not derived from a specific animal or plant source, but if extracted from natural feedstock, origin should be checked by strict vegans.
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.
- Re‐evaluation of glycine (E 640) as a food additive — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF), EFSA Journal (2020). The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) provided a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of glycine (E 640) as a food additive. Glycine is a naturally occurring amino acid and a normal constituent of the human diet. The Panel concluded that there is no need for a numerical ADI for glycine and there is no safety concern for the general population when glycine is used as a food additive.[safe]
Country rules
Country checks for E640
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 E640: Glycine and its sodium salt. 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 E640 (Glycine and its sodium salt) 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 | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. The located record is glycine. It does not establish a separate permission for sodium glycinate. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 1 listed food-use conditionsGlycineHealth Canada: List of Permitted Sequestering Agents. List published ; item G.1.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| 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
- 1 research link; 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 | Use caution |
| WHO | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | 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 E640?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E640 (Glycine and its sodium salt) is “Use caution”. 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 E640 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Glycine and its sodium salt — 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 E640 and why is it used?
Glycine is the simplest amino acid, naturally found in protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, dairy, and legumes, and is also produced synthetically for food use. As a food additive, glycine and its sodium salt are used as flavoring agents and flavor enhancers, contributing a mild sweetness and rounding out taste in some processed foods. It is generally recognized as safe by EFSA and the FDA at typical use levels.
Does E640 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Glycine and its sodium salt.
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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.