FOOD ADDITIVES

We try to be a health conscious family and avoid MSG, food
colorings, artificial flavors, etc. In our local makolet my wife
bought "Mitbal" Vegetable Soup. It says on the front label in
english and hebrew "No Monosodium." Please note, it does not
say "no monosodium glutamate." Listed on the ingredients however
are flavor enhancers E627 (disodium guanylate, sodium guanylate),
E631 (disodium inosinate). After doing some research(and my wife
having some and getting a headache), I found the warning, "NOT SAFE
FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN. Can trigger hyperactivity, asthma,
urticaria, and insomnia. HARMFUL TO PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM GOUT OR
RHEUMATISM. As this substance is not suitable for babies under six
months we suggest it would be advisable for pregnant and lactating
mothers to avoid it also unless/until it is proven safe in these
circumstances." This warning was in the Hyperactive Children's
Support Group (HACSG).
Among other information that I found was that the E631 is
always used with monosodium glutamte. The MSG has about thirty
different names that it is used under and is deceptively slipped in
as "hydrolysed vegetable protein" or in the form of glutamic acid so
it does not need to be listed as MSG.
All three of these substances DO CROSS THE PLACENTA and there
are studies that indicate that they cause learning disabilities.
They are found in Pringles, soup mixes, flavored salty
snacks, etc, you name it, you may be able to find it there. And if
not these two, others that are just as bad.

Another article said (and I am quoting it fully):
Ribo Rash (flavour enhancer 635 or ribonucleotides E635, 627, 631)
 Welcome to our special feature on the effects of new additive
ribonucleotides (flavour enhancer 635, a mixture of 631disodium
guanylate and 627disodium inosinate), which cause what we call Ribo
Rash.
This set of additives seems to be very different from all other
additives. As well as the usual effects of food additives (such as
children's behaviour problems, headaches, heart palpitations,
irritable bowel symptoms) this group can cause an unbearably itchy
rash or welts and/or possibly life-threatening swelling of the lips
and tongue up to 48 hours after consumption. The rash can come and go
and last for up to two weeks and can affect people who have never in
their lives before suffered from itchy rashes.
The delayed long-lasting reaction means that most people don't
realise the cause of their symptoms. Some consumers have suffered an
unbearably itchy rash for years before identifying these additives as
a problem. In some people and possibly unborn babies, a reaction to
635 seems to have triggered severe multiple food intolerance.
Flavour enhancer 635 (ribonucleotides) was approved in Australia in
December 1994.  This new additive is a combination of disodium
guanylate (627, originally isolated from sardines, now made from
yeasts) and disodium inosinate (631, originally isolated from the
Bonito fish, now made from yeasts).
As a group, these additives are known collectively as
ribonucleotides, nucleotides or scientifically as 'the 5 prime
nucleotides'. In the USA, these additives are called Food Flavor
Enhancers Disodium Inosinate (DSI or IMP), Disodium Guanylate (DSG or
GMP), and the combination of IMP and GMP (I&G). IMP, GMP and I&G are
also known as nucleotides. Reactions can range from a single itchy
rash to life-threatening swelling of the lips and tongue. If you eat
these additives once a week or more, you may appear to have a chronic
rash. You don't need a history of rashes or food allergy. Anyone can
be affected.
Effects of MSG increased 10-15 times
Scientists have recently found that the flavour enhancing effect of
MSG is increased up to 10 to 15 times when MSG is used in combination
with ribonucleotides. See 'Yeast Extracts: production, properties and
components' by Rolf Sommer, paper given at the 9th International
Symposium on Yeasts, Sydney, August 1996,
www.ohly.de/publications/publications.html.
'No added MSG'
MSG (monosodium glutamate) is normally listed as flavour enhancer
621, but can also be listed as hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP),
hydrolysed plant protein (HPP),  'yeast extract' or even 'natural
flavour'. Many products claiming no added MSG will contain
ribonucleotides as well as a source of natural glutamates.
Not for babies and young children
Ribonucleotides are not permitted in foods intended specifically for
infants and young children, and people who must avoid purines for
conditions such as gout are advised to avoid these additives.
Reactions
Reactions to nucleotides can range from a single itchy rash to life-
threatening swelling of the lips and tongue. If you eat these
additives once a week or more, you may appear to have a chronic rash.
You don't need a history of rashes or food allergy. Anyone can be
affected. Some people are affected by the more usual reactions to
food additives – irritability, children's behaviour problems,
headaches, irritable bowel symptoms - but what makes these additives
different is the number of rash reactions in people who are usually
affected in other ways.
Reactions to ribonucleotides are difficult to identify because they
are not a true allergy. They can occur within minutes or can be
delayed for hours or even days.