Is MSG Safe for Babies 0–12 months?
For babies 0–12 months, MSG is okay only with caution. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer.
Why this rating?
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer. The FDA considers added MSG generally recognized as safe, and notes that in studies of people who describe themselves as sensitive to it, scientists have not been able to consistently trigger reactions. This entry is precautionary rather than based on a documented harm to infants: a flavor enhancer adds taste and no nutrition, and the CDC advises avoiding high-sodium foods for young children.
Editorial summary
This summary is editorial and is not part of the reviewed rating above. Ratings are unchanged.
At 0 to 12 months
A baby's first foods are breast milk or formula and simple purees, none of which need a flavor enhancer. The risk at this age is mostly from adult foods shared early, such as soup, seasoned snacks and restaurant meals, so keep a young infant's food plain and read labels on anything packaged.
What MSG is
Monosodium glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, an amino acid that occurs naturally in foods such as tomatoes and cheese and is added to food as a flavor enhancer. The FDA's position is that adding MSG to food is generally recognized as safe, and the agency notes that, in studies of people who describe themselves as sensitive to it, scientists have not been able to consistently trigger reactions.
Why this entry is rated caution
The FDA's finding is a general one and does not single out infants, so our rating is Caution, a precaution rather than a response to a documented harm to babies. A flavor enhancer adds taste, not nutrition, and a young child gains nothing from it, so leaving it out costs nothing. The CDC also advises avoiding high-sodium foods for young children, such as some canned foods, processed meats, frozen dinners and snacks, and foods that rely on flavor enhancers are often the same highly seasoned products.
Reading a label
Added MSG has to be listed by name as monosodium glutamate. Free glutamate also occurs naturally in ingredients such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, yeast extract and soy extracts, which the FDA requires to be listed but not to be described as sources of glutamate. Foods made with them cannot claim No MSG or No added MSG, so look for those names as well when you want to avoid it.
In short
In short, the FDA considers MSG generally safe and has not found consistent reactions in controlled studies, but a baby gains nothing from a flavor enhancer. Keep a young child's food plain, read labels on seasoned and packaged foods, and talk to your pediatrician if you notice a pattern of symptoms after a particular food.
How MSG is rated by age
The same ingredient can carry a different rating as a child grows. These are the ratings for each age group that has a guide for MSG.
| Age group | Rating |
|---|---|
| babies 0–12 months | Caution |
| toddlers 12–24 months | Caution |
Other age group
Is MSG safe for toddlers 12–24 months?Sources
- FDA: Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG) — regulatory_or_public_health_body
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit — regulatory_or_public_health_body
Reviewed by Morvarid Nikousokhantayar, MSc Nutrition, Certified Naturopath & Nutritionist — last reviewed September 27, 2026.
This is general feeding information, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about your child's allergies and needs.
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