MSG has a savory taste similar to that of glutamate.
Monosodium glutamate -LRB- MSG , also known as sodium glutamate -RRB- is the sodium salt of glutamic acid , one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids .. sodium. sodium. salt. Salt ( chemistry )#Nomenclature. glutamic acid. glutamic acid. non-essential. Essential amino acid. Monosodium glutamate is found naturally in tomatoes , cheese and other foods .. cheese. cheese. MSG is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer with an umami taste that intensifies the meaty , savory flavor of food , as naturally occurring glutamate does in foods such as stews and meat soups .. umami. umami. It was first prepared in 1908 by Japanese biochemist Kikunae Ikeda , who was trying to isolate and duplicate the savory taste of kombu , an edible seaweed used as a base for many Japanese soups .. Kikunae Ikeda. Kikunae Ikeda. kombu. kombu. MSG as a flavor enhancer balances , blends , and rounds the perception of other tastes .. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given MSG its generally recognized as safe -LRB- GRAS -RRB- designation .. Food and Drug Administration. Food and Drug Administration. generally recognized as safe. generally recognized as safe. A popular belief is that large doses of MSG can cause headaches and other feelings of discomfort , known as `` Chinese restaurant syndrome , '' but double-blind tests fail to find evidence of such a reaction .. headaches. headaches. Chinese restaurant syndrome. Chinese restaurant syndrome. The European Union classifies it as a food additive permitted in certain foods and subject to quantitative limits .. European Union. European Union. food additive. food additive. MSG has the HS code 29224220 and the E number E621 .. HS code. Harmonized System Code. E number. E number