Analysis of glutamate content in food and dietary exposure assessment to glutamate among the Chinese population

Abstract

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor-enhancing substance, was re-evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2017, which established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–30 mg/kg bw/day. Despite this, comprehensive risk assessment data remain limited, particularly in China, a major producer and consumer of MSG. This study analyzed glutamate content in natural and MSG-containing foods in China and assessed dietary exposure using a simple distribution model. A group ADI of 0–120 mg/kg bw/day (as glutamic acid) was established. Results showed that China's general population consumes 20.2 mg/kg bw/day of glutamates, equivalent to 16.8 % of the group ADI, with the 95th percentile (P95) intake at 67.3 mg/kg mg/kg bw/day (56.1 % of the ADI). Children aged 3–6 years exhibited the highest intake, with P95 reaching 97.2 % of the group ADI. These findings provide essential data for risk assessment and regulatory decisions on glutamate consumption in China, underscoring the need to monitor dietary exposure for public health safety.

Keywords

• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Dietary glutamate exposure
• Food safety assessment
• Chinese population
• Food additive regulation
• Amino acid intake