Disodium Inosinate (E 631) and Disodium Guanylate (E 627)

Last reviewed October 19, 2026

In plain words: Disodium inosinate (E 631) is a flavor enhancer often used together with MSG in snacks and soups. It can come from animal or fish sources, which labels usually don't state. Disodium guanylate (E 627) is a flavor enhancer often paired with MSG and disodium inosinate.

What the evidence review says

Disodium inosinate

Disodium inosinate is a flavor enhancer often used together with MSG in snacks and soups. JECFA found no safety concern at flavor-enhancer levels. It can come from animal or fish sources, which labels usually don't state.

No safety signal at flavor-enhancer intakes in the JECFA evaluation. It is a purine and can be metabolized toward uric acid, but JECFA judged additive intake to be a few milligrams per person per day against up to about 2 g/day of purines from the ordinary diet. The practical scanner issues are undisclosed animal or fish origin and use as a marker of highly seasoned processed foods, not a demonstrated toxic effect at use levels.

Disodium guanylate

Disodium guanylate is a flavor enhancer often paired with MSG and disodium inosinate. JECFA found no need for a numerical daily intake limit at flavor-enhancer use. Effects seen in animals came from far higher doses than those in food.

JECFA found no basis for a numerical ADI at flavor-enhancer use. Like disodium inosinate, it is a purine. Estimated additive intake was far below purines already present in a normal diet. High experimental doses produced effects such as soft stools in monkeys, but those doses are not the food-use level that supported the ADI 'not specified.'

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This page is for general education. It is not medical advice and does not replace advice from your doctor, pediatrician, allergist or registered dietitian. Research changes; we review these pages when new evidence or rules come out. Last reviewed October 19, 2026.