Despite many consumers reporting immediate negative reactions to MSG, what status does the FDA currently assign it?
Answer
Generally recognized as safe (GRAS).
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) remains one of the most polarizing food ingredients due to widespread anecdotal reports of immediate adverse reactions such as headaches, flushing, sweating, and chest pain following consumption. However, regulatory bodies, specifically the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), maintain a specific classification for MSG. The FDA has designated MSG as 'generally recognized as safe' (GRAS). This designation implies that, within the scientific community at large, there is sufficient evidence to support its safety when used as intended in food, despite acknowledging that a subset of the population experiences sensitivity symptoms.
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