Monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate (CAS 142-47-2), commonly known as MSG or E621, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid produced through fermentation; used as a flavor enhancer in food manufacturing.

Where is Monosodium glutamate used?

• Processed foods: primary seasoning ingredient
• Instant noodles, soups, snack seasonings, sauces and ready meals: boosts palatability at low use levels
• Meat processing and marinades: enhances savory depth
• It also helps mask off-notes from preservation ingredients.
• Personal care: humectant and buffering agent in skin conditioning products
• Fermentation media and food processing: pH buffer for controlled acidity
• Suitable for industrial food manufacturing requiring stable flavor performance and controlled particle size in dry blending or continuous production.
• Used as a core umami ingredient in custom compound seasoning systems alongside salt, sugar, spices, and nucleotides.

Good to know: It amplifies savory, umami taste profiles, allowing formulators to reduce sodium content while maintaining or improving perceived flavor intensity. Its moisture-retention function supports formulation stability.

Formulation notes

• Addition can reduce sodium content in foods by up to 40% without altering taste.
• Sodium content can be reduced by 11% in chicken broth and by 32.5% in spicy soups.

Typical specification

• Powder grade typically of 99% purity for food processing and seasoning systems.
• Contains about 12% sodium, compared with 39% sodium in table salt.
• Routine quality control includes assay, loss on drying, clarity, solubility, mesh confirmation, and contaminant checks.

Regulatory status

• Permitted in foods under the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives (E621), with limited use.
• JECFA did not establish an acceptable daily intake due to low toxicity and use levels.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Commonly sold in a 25 kg package.

Frequently asked questions about Monosodium glutamate

What is the regulatory status of MSG in the US?

The FDA considers MSG generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for addition to foods.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.