Purpose:
To test for harmful effects resulting from a food diet containing levels of MSG many times higher than recommended use levels or current consumption rate.
Research Institution:
Life Science Laboratory of the Central Research Laboratories in Yokohama, Japan
Scientist(s):
Y. Takasaki, Y. Matsuzawa, S. Iwata, Y. O'hara, S. Yonetani, M. Ichimura
Results Published:
"Toxicological Studies of MSG in Rodents: Relationship between Routes of Administration and Neurotoxicity," Toxicology Letters, 1979.
Study Design:
- Groups of mice and rats of varying ages were fed meals containing differing amounts of MSG.
- Rodents that had ingested MSG were compared to a control group that received no MSG, and to another group that received more MSG than would have been ingested through normal feeding habits.
Study Results:
The scientists observed that extremely large amounts of MSG used in a food diet do not cause any immediate or long-term harmful effects in rodents.