Flavor Enhancer · EU 621
Monosodium Glutamate
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Monosodium Glutamate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 2 out of 5 (Caution), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. By tracked product count it ranks #16 of 417.
- #16 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Monosodium Glutamate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #16 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (96th percentile).
- 2/5
- Caution
- Approved
- FDA status
- #16 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Monosodium Glutamate: 2,745 tracked U.S. products (common band, #16 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 2,745 · #16 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 621 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Flavor Enhancer | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 2 / 5 (Caution) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
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.
What is Monosodium Glutamate?
MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE -MSG, also known as sodium glutamate- is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids.
Health Concerns
- EFSA evaluation: Re‐evaluation of glutamic acid -E 620-, sodium glutamate -E 621-, potassium glutamate -E 622-, calcium glutamate -E 623-, ammonium glutamate -E 624- a. EFSA overexposure risk: high. Flagged by ANSES (French food safety agency) as additive of interest
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a common OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (2,745 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Nearest OFF product count to 2,745
Nearest other additives by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monosodium Glutamate safe to consume?
Monosodium Glutamate scores 2/5 (Caution). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a common additive (2,745 tracked products, #16 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Monosodium Glutamate used for in food?
Monosodium Glutamate shows up as Savory foods, snacks, processed meals in the Flavor Enhancer class, and the OFF sample puts it in the common footprint band (2,745 products).
Where does Monosodium Glutamate sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #16 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.
What health concerns are associated with Monosodium Glutamate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Monosodium Glutamate: EFSA evaluation: Re‐evaluation of glutamic acid -E 620-, sodium glutamate -E 621-, potassium glutamate -E 622-, calcium glutamate -E 623-, ammonium glutamate -E 624- a. EFSA overexposure risk: high. Flagged by ANSES (French food safety agency) as additive of interest. These findings inform its safety score of 2/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.