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

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.