Monosodium glutamate and reported allergy symptoms across decades of research
What it found
Decades of research in people have not shown a clear, consistent link between eating monosodium glutamate and symptoms like asthma or hives.
Early reports raised concerns, but later studies did not confirm them.
What they found
Studies in people
Asthma and breathing problems
Some early reports linked monosodium glutamate to asthma attacks. Decades of research in people have not confirmed a clear or consistent connection.
Hives and skin swelling
People have reported hives and swelling after eating the additive. Later studies in people failed to show a reliable link.
Runny nose
A runny nose was among the symptoms blamed on monosodium glutamate. Research over many years has not backed up this claim consistently.
Other findings
What monosodium glutamate is
It is a salt form of an amino acid that the body does not strictly need to get from food. It is added to food because it enhances flavour.
What the authors conclude
- They say that decades of research have not proven a clear and consistent link between eating monosodium glutamate and conditions like asthma, hives, swelling, or a runny nose.
- Their reading of the evidence suggests the early worries were not supported by later work.
How it was done
Since 1968, people have reported various symptoms after eating foods with monosodium glutamate, originally calling it Chinese restaurant syndrome. Some doctors suggested the additive might trigger asthma, hives, swelling, or a runny nose.
The authors looked back at published reports and small clinical studies about monosodium glutamate. They examined whether it could cause the symptom complex first described in 1968. They also checked for links to asthma attacks, hives, swelling, and a runny nose.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work looks back at past studies rather than running a new trial, so it cannot prove cause and effect on its own.
- Many of the earlier studies they examined were small and varied in quality, which limits how firm any conclusions can be.
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 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error