The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) wants the European Commission to take measures against the taste enhancer glutamate (E620-E625), which also includes the notorious substance MSG (E621).
The European Commission has not heard anything more than half a year ago, food watchdog foodwatch reports.
Because many consumers, especially children, consume a lot more glutamate than the EFSA considers justified, the food authority wants the amount of food to be reduced significantly in everyday food.
MOST INFAMOUS
The content of glutamate must be reduced, for example in soups, broth, sauces, baked goods, meat products, spice mixes, spices and pastes.
Glutamic acid (E620) and glutamates (E621-E625) fall into the glutamate group. Monosodium glutamate or MSG (E621) is the most infamous.
The substance is linked to the Chinese restaurant syndrome and can cause headaches, chest pain, palpitations, high blood pressure and disturbance of blood sugar levels, according to research by the EFSA.
DECEPTION
MSG is added to many processed foods. Because more and more people look at E numbers, manufacturers replace E621 with, for example, yeast extract, which also contains a lot of glutamate.
As a result, it is no longer recognized as glutamate. A form of deception, says foodwatch.
HALF YEAR
Normally EFSA opinions are used by the European Commission in the formulation of the policy.
However, the European Commission has not heard anything more than half a year ago.
[foodwatch]