No glutamate syndrome after daycare

Suspicion of too much glutamate after Kita food could not be confirmed by health authorities

26/01/2011

After yesterday, nine toddlers had redness and partial swelling in the face shortly after eating in a Hamburg daycare center, the Institute for Hygiene and the Environment examined samples of the food. After that, the first suspicion of the emergency doctor, who suspected an overreaction to too much glutamate in the food, has not been confirmed. The content of glutamate was well below the authorized maximum level. Further investigations should now bring certainty.

In the food sample from the Kita (cheese spätzle with organic tomato sauce), a glutamate content of 1.5 g / kg was found. This relatively low concentration can already be achieved by the naturally occurring in cheese and tomatoes glutamic acid. Glutamate can also be used as a flavor enhancer, with no more than 10 grams of glutamic acid added per kilogram of food. It is different with organic products. Here, glutamate may occur in natural concentrations, but should not be added as a flavor enhancer. Sensitive individuals may respond to high glutamate concentrations with reddened skin, itching in the throat, heat sensation, headache, and nausea ("China Restaurant Syndrome"). In order to check a different connection between the symptoms of the children and the food, further investigations are carried out. (Pm)