Disodium guanylate

Disodium guanylate

Disodium guanylate

What is it:

Disodium Guanylate, also known as E627, is a food additive that is a flavor enhancer. It is a salt derived from guanosine monophosphate (GMP) that is used to boost the savory or umami taste in various processed foods. While it occurs naturally in certain foods like shitake mushrooms, commercial production is often achieved through a fermentation process using microorganisms such as the bacterium Corynebacterium ammoniagenes. These microorganisms convert precursor molecules into disodium guanylate, which is then isolated, purified, and transformed into a powdered form suitable for incorporation into a wide range of food products. It is commonly mixed with MSG or disodium inosinate to enhance flavor in various snacks, soups, sauces, and other processed foods.

Rating:

While disodium guanylate can be derived from a natural source, it may be used in much larger amounts commercially than the amounts present in nature. It is commonly found alongside MSG (rated red) or disodium insolinate and in highly processed foods. There is no evidence suggesting it to be toxic in animals, however, no dosage guidelines have been set by the FDA due to lacking research in humans.

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How we rate ingredients

Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:

Clean

It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.

Caution

It goes into one or more of the below categories

We Avoid

It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)

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