FDA Status
GRAS
Flavor Enhancer · CAS 4691-65-0 · EU E631
Disodium Inosinate
FDA status: GRAS. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
4.0 / 5
Composite safety Low Risk
Score 4 of 5
Disodium Inosinate: 4/5 (Low Risk)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Disodium Inosinate is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 4 out of 5 (Low Risk), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is a top-10% most widely-used additive.
- 93th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Disodium Inosinate is classified GRAS by the FDA, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is a top-10% most widely-used additive (93th percentile by tracked product count).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- GRAS
- FDA status
- 93th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Disodium Inosinate (E631), CAS 4691-65-0, is a flavor enhancer additive holding a composite safety score of 4 out of 5 (Low Risk). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as GRAS, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 1,685 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Chips, instant noodles, sauces.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Disodium Inosinate to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Disodium Inosinate, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | GRAS | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E631 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 4691-65-0 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Flavor Enhancer | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 4 / 5 (Low Risk) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 1,685 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Approved
E631
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Disodium Inosinate's 4/5 (Low Risk) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA classifies Disodium Inosinate as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS), meaning qualified experts consider it safe under intended conditions of use.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Disodium Inosinate. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Disodium Inosinate compares
Where a safety score of 4/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Disodium Inosinate highlighted)
4,369 of 4,509 scored ingredients (96.9%) share a safety score of 4/5.
What is Disodium Inosinate?
Nucleotide enhancer synergistic with MSG.
Health Concerns
- Safe. Same gout precaution.
Common Uses
Chips, instant noodles, sauces
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Disodium Inosinate safe to consume?
Disodium Inosinate has a safety score of 4/5 (Low Risk). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Disodium Inosinate used for in food?
Disodium Inosinate is commonly used as: Chips, instant noodles, sauces. It belongs to the Flavor Enhancer category of food additives.
Is Disodium Inosinate banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Disodium Inosinate. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Disodium Inosinate?
The FDA classifies Disodium Inosinate as "GRAS", while the EU status is "Approved" (E631). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Disodium Inosinate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Disodium Inosinate: Safe. Same gout precaution.. These findings inform its safety score of 4/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Disodium Inosinate calculated?
The safety score of 4/5 for Disodium Inosinate is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
What to do about Disodium Inosinate
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (GRAS) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.