Food additive fears dismissed

A chain e-mail raising concerns about food additives, particularly monosodium glutamate, was dismissed by the Food Safety Commission yesterday.

Any food additive within the acceptable limits laid down by the relevant regulations is completely safe and there is no reason for concern, the commission said.

Monosodium glutamate is an approved food additive used as a flavour-enhancer. As with other food additives there is a limit, which is 10g/kg.

According to labelling regulations, food additives can either be mentioned by their specific name or their E number, or both, but always following their category name.