India, Jan. 6 -- Food additives have become a subject of widespread debate, often shaped more by perception than science. While many additives have been used safely for decades, misinformation especially on social media has created confusion and distrust. This article offers a clear, evidence-based overview of food-additive safety, with special focus on glutamates such as monosodium glutamate (MSG). It highlights why global scientific systems like the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) are essential, explains how additive safety is evaluated, summarises the global consensus on MSG, and outlines what India can learn from international best practices.

Despite a long history of safe use, several food additives have bee...