monosodium glutamate

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mon·o·so·di·um glu·ta·mate / ˌmänəˌsōdēəm ˈgloōtəˌmāt/ (abbr.: MSG) • n. a compound, HOOC(CH2)2(NH2)COONa, that occurs naturally as a breakdown product of proteins and is used as a flavor enhancer in food (although itself tasteless). A traditional ingredient in Asian cooking, it was originally obtained from seaweed but is now mainly made from bean and cereal protein.

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