About MSG

The acceptance of MSG in food for neonates is typical of the impact of glutamate in foods generally. It is well known that the addition of glutamate to suitable foods produces an increase in the acceptability for the sensory properties of those foods.¹², ¹³ Thus, one study found that a soup in which MSG was increased by 20% was judged as more savory, satisfying and pleasant.¹⁴ Increases in food acceptability are clearly mediated by changes in the sensory properties of the foods produced by added MSG. Fig. 2 shows changes in qualities such as richness and saltiness as well as acceptability of three common foods.