Information › Ingredients › Flavour enhancers
Flavour enhancers: MSG and glutamate on a Dutch label
Updated on 4 November 2026
At a glance
- Kind
- Ingredient, not an allergen
- Also as
- smaakversterker, E621, mononatriumglutamaat, glutamaat
- Without flavour enhancers
- 40,798 products
- Contain it
- 1,126 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
What are flavour enhancers?
Flavour enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (MSG, E621) make savoury tastes fuller, in soups, sauces, crisps and seasoning mixes.
Recognise
On a Dutch label as
- smaakversterker
- E621
- mononatriumglutamaat
- glutamaat
May also be it
- yeast extract (contains glutamate by nature)
- soy sauce
Not flavour enhancers
- salt
We look for these Dutch words in the ingredient list itself, also between brackets. If in doubt, read the pack.
Shopping
Per shelf where flavour enhancers are common (the shops’ own Dutch shelf names)
Examples without flavour enhancers
- Unox Stevige erwtensoepUnox · 300 mlDirk € 1,87Hoogvliet € 1,87Albert Heijn € 2,15Jumbo € 2,15PLUS € 2,15Contains: Celery, GlutenMay contain traces: Cow's milk, Egg, Lactose, Milk, Mustard, Soy
- Maggi Smaakmaker tomatensoepMaggi · 100 gDirk € 1,65Hoogvliet € 1,70Albert Heijn € 1,79Jumbo € 1,79PLUS € 1,79Contains: CeleryMay contain traces: Cow's milk, Egg, Gluten, Lactose, Milk, Mustard, Soy
- Santa Maria Crispy chicken mixSanta Maria · 50 gDirk € 0,99Hoogvliet € 0,99Albert Heijn € 1,09Jumbo € 1,09PLUS € 1,09No allergens listed
- Maggi Basis groentesoepMaggi · 485 mlDirk € 2,75Hoogvliet € 2,83Albert Heijn € 2,99Jumbo € 2,99PLUS € 2,99Contains: Celery, GlutenMay contain traces: Cow's milk, Egg, Lactose, Milk, Mustard, Soy
- Knorr Pastagerecht al pestoKnorr · 155 gDirk € 2,49Hoogvliet € 2,56Albert Heijn € 2,59Jumbo € 2,59PLUS € 2,59Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk, WheatMay contain traces: Celery, Egg, Gluten, Mustard, Soy
- Conimex PindasoepConimex · 570 mlDirk € 1,99Hoogvliet € 2,29Albert Heijn € 3,99Jumbo € 3,99PLUS € 3,99Contains: Celery, Egg, Gluten, Peanut, Soy, Wheat
All 40,798 products without flavour enhancers (in Dutch)
Which supermarket has the most without?
On the shelves where flavour enhancers are common: the share of products without it.
- Dirk70%242 of 346
- PLUS66%200 of 302
- Albert Heijn63%167 of 266
- Hoogvliet57%55 of 97
- Jumbo55%215 of 391
Brands without flavour enhancers
On the shelves where flavour enhancers are common, none of their products names it.
- Jumbo 55
- Santa Maria 33
- Chio 21
- G'woon 17
- Brets 11
- Banderos 10
- Kokki Djawa 9
- Tyrrells 8
- Marhaba 8
- Lezziz 7
- Jumbo's 7
- BIO+ 7
What to look for in the shop
- Read the ingredient list: it is there by its Dutch name or its E number, the same in every language.
- Watch compound ingredients between brackets: it is sometimes in there.
Good to know
Recently without flavour enhancers (7)These products named flavour enhancers on an earlier label, and no longer do.
What are flavour enhancers mostly in?Most often in the shelves ‘Instant noedels en snack cups’ (79% contains it), ‘Houdbare maaltijden’ (29% contains it) and ‘Chips’ (29% contains it).
Most often in the shelves ‘Instant noedels en snack cups’ (79% contains it), ‘Houdbare maaltijden’ (29% contains it) and ‘Chips’ (29% contains it). There is choice without it there too: 22 products on ‘Instant noedels en snack cups’, for example.
How do flavour enhancers read on a Dutch label?As smaakversterker, E621, mononatriumglutamaat and glutamaat.
As smaakversterker, E621, mononatriumglutamaat and glutamaat. We look for those words in the ingredient list itself, also in compound ingredients between brackets.
How many products contain flavour enhancers?1,126 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 3%.
1,126 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 3%. The other 40,798 do not name it.
Which supermarket has the most products without flavour enhancers?On the shelves where flavour enhancers are common: Dirk (70% without), PLUS (66% without), Albert Heijn (63% without), Hoogvliet (57% without) and Jumbo (55% without).
On the shelves where flavour enhancers are common: Dirk (70% without), PLUS (66% without), Albert Heijn (63% without), Hoogvliet (57% without) and Jumbo (55% without).
A choice of your own, not an allergy
Flavour enhancers are not an allergen: whether you eat or use them is up to you. We show what the ingredient list says, so you can choose. Recipes change: if in doubt, the pack in your hand decides.
More ingredients under Ingredients; allergens under Allergies.
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