Alternate Names

Disodium 5' -inosinate, Sodium 5' -inosinate

Description

A flavor enhancer/intensifier that is almost always used in conjunction with MSG and sometimes disodium guanylate (the latter combination is known as disodium 5'-ribonucleotides). It is a purine - a naturally occurring precursor to DNA and RNA - and is almost always derived from animal origin. Unlike disodium guanylate, disodium inosinate is completely ineffective without MSG.

Additional Information

Purines are found in such low abundance in foods that there are no recommendations on daily intake or need for labeling (although the need was discussed at one point in time). Those who do not consume animal derived foods (such as vegetarians and vegans) should avoid this ingredient.

Found In

canned foods, sauces, snack foods, cured meat, instant noodles, salad dressing

Possible Health Effects

Those with gout or uric acid kidney stones should limit consumption of purines.

Allergy Information

Unknown

Researcher Comments

While this additive on its own is relatively benign the fact that it is almost always used in conjunction with MSG dropped it a grade.

Online Resources/Related

• US Food And Drug Administration, Code of Federal Regulations Title 21: Disodium Inosinate, Revised April 1, 2009, US Food and Drug Administration
• Toxicology, Long-term feeding study on disodium 5-ribonucleotide in dogs., 1975, Worden AN, Rivett KF, Edwards DB, Street AE, Newman AJ.
• FAO/WHO Food Standards, Codex Alimentarius: GSFA Online, 2010, FAO/WHO Food Standards

Print Resources

• Winter, Ruth. A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, 7th Edition: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods. Three Rivers Press, 2009
• Statham, Bill. Eat Safe: The Truth about Additives from Aspartame to Xanthan Gum. Running Press, 2008

Copyright March 15, 2011 Be Food Smart,