John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 190: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if monosodium glutamate is a dangerous and addictive substance; if it has affected obesity rates in children; the steps she has proposed for the reduction of intake of this substance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23865/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Monosodium glutamate, MSG, is a food additive whose main function is to enhance flavours. MSG is authorised for use in all member states of the European Union, including Ireland, under Directive No 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners, as amended, which has been transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Food Additives other than Colours and Sweeteners) Regulations 2004, S.I. No. 58 of 2004.

MSG was authorised following a rigorous safety assessment by the EU scientific committee on food, SCF. It has also been evaluated by other national and international food safety organisations, including the Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Health Organisation Expert Committee on Food Additives, JECFA, and by the US Food and Drug Administration. These organisations have not allocated MSG any acceptable daily intake, ADI. Normally, when a food additive is approved, an ADI is set but when, on the basis of the available scientific data, the total intake of the substance following consumption of a typical diet does not represent a hazard to health no ADI is specified. Against this background there is no basis for considering MSG to be dangerous or addictive and I have no proposals in regard to advising the public to reduce their MSG intake.

No evidence of a connection between MSG and obesity was brought to the attention of the national task force on obesity and therefore its report, Obesity — the Policy Challenges, which was launched on 16 May 2005, makes no reference to this issue.