INS 627 · Flavour enhancer

INS 627 is the code for disodium guanylate

Boosts savoury taste far more strongly when paired with MSG than alone, so it almost always appears alongside INS 621.

What it does
Boosts savoury flavour A flavour enhancer
Also printed as
Sodium 5'-guanylate
Vegetarian?
Depends on the maker Source not stated on the label
In the Zabel score
6 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
In our catalogue
191 packs List it in their ingredients
Vegetarian or not

Is INS 627 vegetarian?

It depends on the maker. INS 627 can be made from plant or animal sources and the label does not say which, so the code tells you nothing either way. The green or brown mark on the pack is the declaration to go by.

Counted from the 191 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 627, 169 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.

What the evidence says

What does the evidence say about INS 627?

We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.

JECFA has not set a numerical limit and no ADI concern has been identified at food levels. It is a purine compound, so people managing gout or high uric acid may be advised to limit it. It may be produced from yeast or from fish or meat material - origin varies by manufacturer and is not stated on the label.

Does Zabel mark INS 627 down?

Yes, by 6 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0). Read the method.

Questions people search

What is INS 627?

INS 627 is the code for disodium guanylate, a flavour enhancer. Boosts savoury taste far more strongly when paired with MSG than alone, so it almost always appears alongside INS 621.

Is INS 627 vegetarian?

It depends on the maker. INS 627 can be made from plant or animal sources and the label does not say which, so the code tells you nothing either way. The green or brown mark on the pack is the declaration to go by.

What does the evidence say about INS 627?

JECFA has not set a numerical limit and no ADI concern has been identified at food levels. It is a purine compound, so people managing gout or high uric acid may be advised to limit it. It may be produced from yeast or from fish or meat material - origin varies by manufacturer and is not stated on the label.

Does Zabel mark INS 627 down?

Yes, by 6 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0).

What other names is INS 627 printed under?

Packs also print it as Sodium 5'-guanylate, or as the bare number 627 in brackets after the ingredient.

Sources

  1. 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
  2. 02 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026

Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page

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