Monosodium glutamate and reported allergy symptoms
What it found
Decades of research have not shown a clear, consistent link between eating monosodium glutamate and asthma, hives, swelling or a runny nose.
The evidence comes from people, in reports and small clinical studies.
What they found
Studies in people
Symptoms blamed on MSG
Anecdotal reports and small clinical studies of varying quality have linked a variety of symptoms to eating monosodium glutamate.
Conditions studied
Reports have described asthma, hives, swelling under the skin and a runny nose after eating monosodium glutamate. Some have suggested it should be considered a possible cause in people with these conditions.
No consistent link found
Despite the concerns raised by early reports, decades of research have not shown a clear and consistent relationship between eating monosodium glutamate and these conditions.
What the authors conclude
“Despite concerns raised by early reports, decades of research have failed to demonstrate a clear and consistent relationship between MSG ingestion and the development of these conditions.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say decades of research have failed to demonstrate a clear and consistent relationship between MSG ingestion and the development of these conditions.
How it was done
Since 1968, when the 'Chinese restaurant syndrome' was first described, many anecdotal reports and small studies have blamed a range of symptoms on eating monosodium glutamate.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The reports and studies behind these claims were of variable quality, so they cannot settle whether monosodium glutamate causes these symptoms.
- A link seen in reports or small studies cannot show that monosodium glutamate is the cause.
The paper
- Title
- Monosodium glutamate 'allergy': menace or myth?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Williams AN, Woessner KM (2009). Monosodium glutamate 'allergy': menace or myth?. Clinical and experimental allergy. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2009.03221.xPubMed 19389112DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error