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Which foods can contain MSG and other flavor enhancers?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A woman reads the nutrition labels on two brightly colored boxes of cereal. — food additive Labels provide information on a food product's ingredients and nutritional value.

Flavor enhancers like monosodium glutamate (MSG) are additives used to supplement or intensify the natural umami taste of various foods.12

Commercially, these enhancers are commonly found in a wide range of processed products, including:

Soups and broths12
Sauces and gravies12
Flavoring and spice blends12
Canned and frozen vegetables12
Meats and poultry12
Seafood2

In addition to MSG, other compounds used as flavor enhancers include 5′-ribonucleotides, inosine monophosphate (IMP), guanosine monophosphate (GMP), yeast extract, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. While some individuals have reported sensitivity to MSG, scientific studies have not established a conclusive link between the consumption of normal levels of the additive and adverse physical reactions.12