International Glutamate Technical Committee

While sodium reduction in the diet is an important objective, when salt (NaCl) levels are reduced in foods, its palatability is also generally decreased. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer that contains about 12% sodium, which is less than half of that contained in regular table salt at about 39%. Therefore, by the addition of an appropriate amount of MSG, the palatability of low salt foods can be recovered with the overall sodium content of the food being substantially reduced.