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E628

Dipotassium guanylate

Limited risk

Nucleotide flavor enhancer.

Vegan
maybe
Vegetarian
maybe

What it is

A flavor enhancer that provides a savory, umami taste, similar to MSG but much more potent.

How it is used in food

Allows food manufacturers to drastically reduce the salt content of a product while maintaining a strong, savory flavor.

Commonly found in
  • Processed foods

Health and safety

Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) at authorized levels.

Regularly evaluated by EFSA for safety.

Regulatory status

RegionStatusNotes
Australia & New Zealand
FSANZ
Permitted Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code.
European Union
EFSA / European Commission
Permitted Authorised for food use under EU regulations (Annex II).
United States
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
Permitted Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives).

Identification on labels

E-number
E628

Worth knowing

Approved for use in specific food categories.

Conclusion

This nucleotide flavor enhancer presents a bounded risk and is generally recognised as safe at authorised levels. By providing a potent savoury taste, it allows food manufacturers to reduce salt content in processed foods, making it a reasonable trade-off unless you consume massive amounts of heavily processed meals.

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Entry last reviewed 2026-07-28.

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