Food additive databaseseasoningChecked 2026-10-02

Monosodium L-Glutamate L-グルタミン酸ナトリウム（別名グルタミン酸ソーダ）

Designated additivePermitted in the EU (E621)EFSA ADI 30mg per kg body weight per day

Purpose: seasoning
On the label: “調味料（アミノ酸）” (seasoning (amino acid)), “調味料（アミノ酸等）” (seasoning (amino acids, etc.)), “グルタミン酸Na” (monosodium glutamate), “グルタミン酸ナトリウム” (monosodium glutamate)
Name in the List of Designated Additives: L-グルタミン酸ナトリウム（別名グルタミン酸ソーダ） (No. 138)

In Japan

A seasoning that adds umami. No standards for use have been set.
When used to adjust taste, it can be written with the group name “調味料（アミノ酸）” (seasoning (amino acid)), or “調味料（アミノ酸等）” (seasoning (amino acids, etc.)) if nucleic acids and the like are also used. Its short names are “グルタミン酸Na” and “グルタミン酸ナトリウム” (monosodium glutamate).
It is also included in the list of “additives that may be used for nutritional fortification” (amino acids).

Japan's standards for use

There are no standards for use that limit which foods or how much (the general standards for all additives still apply).

This is a summary of the standards for use. See the source list for the exact conditions.

In the EU

It is on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) as E621.
The EU has no group name such as “調味料（アミノ酸等）” (seasoning (amino acids, etc.)). Instead, the category name “flavour enhancer” is followed by the substance name or E621 (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex VII).
In its 2017 evaluation, EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) set an ADI (acceptable daily intake) of 30mg per kg of body weight per day (a group ADI, for the total of related substances) (EFSA ANS).

When it is labeled under a shared name

Monosodium L-Glutamate may be declared on the label in the same way as “調味料（アミノ酸等）”. See Seasoning (amino acids etc.) — e.g. MSG for details.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-02. Rules and evaluations change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.

This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies; it is not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. The ADI is a guide to the amount that is considered safe to take every day over a lifetime.

Other substances used as seasoning

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