Monosodium Glutamate

Monosodium glutamate or MSG can also be referred to as sodium glutamate. It is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. MSG is a white, odorless crystalline powder with a melting point of 232 degrees celsius. It has a molar mass of 169.11 g/mol (anhydrous) or 187.127 g/mol (monohydrate). Monosodium glutamate is freely soluble in water and does not break down while heated. The chemical formula for monosodium glutamate is C5H8NNaO4. Monosodium glutamate was first found in seaweed in Japan. MSG can be found naturally in some foods. Monosodium glutamate is often found in soups, gravy, condiments, stews and such. It is used all over the world to heighten the flavor of foods! Though some believe MSG is unsafe and causes things like headaches, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has done tests and proved it was safe to consume.

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