Day 016 - 22 Jul 94 - Page 57
1
Q. How can they be satisfied if they have doubts?
2 A. Well, that is the way the system works and, as far as
I know, it has never created problems in the past.
3 I mean, it is one thing to give it a clean bill of health
and say: "OK, we have looked at it thoroughly and we are
4 satisfied that everything is OK". It may be then that
some more evidence arises which causes them to look at
5 this again. Really they are only being very, very
cautious.
6
Q. Monosodium glutamate does not have an E number, does it?
7 A. No, I do not think it has. The reason for that is
that glutamate, that is the bit without the sodium, is a
8 natural constituent in the body anyway. It is also a
natural constituent of many common foods.
9
Q. If an additive has not got an E number -- do they not get
10 given E numbers when the EC is happy about their use?
A. Yes, eventually they -----
11
MR. JUSTICE BELL: But this will be an additive by the
12 definition you have given it?
A. Yes, it is. On this one I cannot say why it has not
13 got -- I cannot say categorically why it has not got an E
number, but I think this one comes into a special category
14 where there is not really very much concern because of the
fact that it is normally, it is a normal metabolite in the
15 body and there are huge amounts present in a number of
normal foods. I have given you the example there, that
16 tomatoes, 8 million tonnes of tomatoes, contain about
14,000 tonnes of MSG.
17
MS. STEEL: We have salts occurring naturally in foods, but
18 that does that mean that salt is automatically good for
you, full stop?
19
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Are you saying monosodium glutamate is good
20 for you or just that they are satisfied it does not do any
harm?
21 A. They are satisfied because it has been a normal part
of the diet or has been a constituent of normal foods that
22 have been around for a long, long time.
23 MS. STEEL: So has salt and there are concerns about the links
between salt and high blood pressure?
24 A. I do not think that is quite the same thing, because
salt, I think, would never have been included in the same
25 levels, in the same amounts, in the diet as something like
tomatoes. But again I can assure you that, apart from
26 that, the whole question of monosodium glutamate has been
subjected to thorough evaluation. I am just pointing out
27 to you these facts as additional evidence which reinforces
the view that they are safe. I mean, after all, if we are
28 going to get worried about the normal constituents which
occur in the body, then really we are being ultra,
29 ultra-cautious.
30 Q. We are concerned about normal constituents which occur in
the body, are we not? As I say, salt occurs in the body?
