Monosodium glutamate

January 25, 2005
Image of Monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a salt of the amino acid glutamic acid, is used as a flavor enhancer in foods. Some individuals experience adverse reactions to this compound, but a 1995 FASEB study found no evidence that it causes neurological damage when consumed in the small amounts typical for food usage.

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