Glutamic acid, being a constituent of protein, is present in foods that contain protein, but it can only be tasted when it is present in an unbound form. Significant amounts of free glutamic acid are present in a wide variety of foods, including cheeses and soy sauce, and glutamic acid is responsible for umami, one of the five basic tastes of the human sense of taste. Glutamic acid often is used as a food additive and flavor enhancer in the form of its sodium salt, known as monosodium glutamate (MSG).
glUTAMic AcId, beiNg A CONstituEnt of pRotein Is PresEnt in foOdS tHat cOnTAIN ProTEIn, buT it cAN onLy bE tasted whEN it is prEsent In An unBounD FoRm. SIGnIficant amounts Of, free glutAmIC Acid are prEsent In a wide VArIEty oF fOods, InCluding CHeeses aNd soY sauce, and gLuTaMic ACId IS reSpoNsibLE for umaMi, OnE OF the Five bASIc TAStEs of the huMan senSe Of tasTE. gLutAmic AcID OFteN is uSeD aS A FOod aDDItIvE aND flAVor enhaNceR in the fOrm of its sodium sALt, knoWn aS mONosoDium GLUTAMAte (msg).