monosodium glutamate
Noun: A white, crystalline compound, the sodium salt of glutamic acid, used as a food additive to enhance savory (umami) flavor. It is commonly associated with, but not limited to, Asian cuisine.
Monosodium glutamate is used as a flavor enhancer in processed foods, restaurant cooking, and home cooking. It intensifies the savory, meaty taste of food without adding a distinct flavor of its own. - It is often listed on ingredient labels by its full name or the acronym MSG. - In some regions, it may be listed under broader terms like "flavor enhancer" or "artificial flavors."
- Scientific/Industrial Context: In food science, monosodium glutamate is classified as a (E621 in the European Union's food additive numbering system). It works by stimulating umami taste receptors on the tongue.
- Regulatory Context: Its presence in food products is regulated by food safety authorities worldwide, such as the FDA in the United States.
- MSG: The common acronym for monosodium glutamate.
- Glutamate: Refers to the glutamic acid ion, which is the active component in MSG. Glutamate occurs naturally in foods like tomatoes, cheese, and mushrooms.
- Umami: The fifth basic taste (alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter), described as savory or meaty, which monosodium glutamate enhances.
- Flavor enhancer (a general category that includes MSG).
- Taste enhancer.
While "monosodium glutamate" specifically refers to the purified additive, the term is sometimes used colloquially to refer to the perceived effects of its consumption. It is important to distinguish the chemical compound from the natural glutamates found in many whole foods.
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white crystalline compound used as a food additive to enhance flavor; often used in Chinese cooking
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food manufacturers sometimes list MSG simply as `artificial flavors' in ingredient lists
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