Monosodium glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, which is a natural essential amino acid. Glutamic acid is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and is present in all complete proteins. Monosodium glutamate has the ability to make bland and tasteless foods taste wonderful. It is very cheap and easy to produce and is present in a wide variety of foods. Commercially it is prepared by yeast or bacterial fermentation using Brevibacterium, Arthrobacter, Microbacterium and Corynebacterium of molasses, starch, sugar beets, and sugar cane. It can also be prepared from vegetable protein. It is essentially an odourless, white crystal or crystalline powder that is slightly soluble in water, and commercially used as a flavour enhancer in foods. About 1.5 million metric tons are sold each year and this number is rising.http://www.creative-enzymes.com/product/Monosodium-Glutamate_462.html