The glutamate added to foods for flavor in the form of MSG represents only a small fraction of the total amount of glutamate consumed in the average daily diet. The average person consumes around 10 grams of bound glutamate and up to one gram of free glutamate daily. The human body creates about 50 grams of free glutamate daily. In contrast, the added intake of free glutamate through MSG amounts to approximately one-half gram per person, or 1/10 teaspoon, daily.

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