E460 / Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers
Microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose
Safety in brief
Safe
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- No allergen or sensitivity is recorded for this ingredient here. Check the whole product label; this is not an allergen-free guarantee.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and powdered cellulose are purified forms of plant fiber (cellulose) used as anti-caking agents, bulking agents, and texturizers. They are common in shredded cheese (to prevent clumping), low-fat foods, sauces, and dietary supplement tablets, where they add bulk without calories. As insoluble fiber, they pass through the digestive system largely unchanged. They are considered safe and are widely used across the food and supplement industries.
Also appears on labels as: Microcrystalline cellulose, Powdered cellulose, Cellulose powder, Purified cellulose, Cellulose microcrystalline, MCC, Cellulose (microcrystalline), Cellulose (powdered), E460, E 460, E-460, E460(i).
What do E460(i) and E460(ii) mean on a food label?
This E460 entry groups two forms: microcrystalline cellulose, E460(i), and powdered cellulose, E460(ii). Both are purified cellulose from plant material, but they are prepared differently and have separate ingredient names.
WHO/JECFA lists powdered cellulose as an anti-caking agent, emulsifier, texturizer and thickener. In plain language, these functions help control clumping and food texture. For microcrystalline cellulose it lists anti-caking, emulsifying and stabilising functions. These explain food manufacture, not a health benefit.
EU Regulation 2025/666 changes specifications for both E460 forms, applying from October 27, 2025 with transition provisions. This is a purity-specification amendment, not a blanket ban. A specific food use still needs its own category and market check.
- WHO/JECFA: powdered cellulose and food functions
- WHO/JECFA: microcrystalline cellulose and food functions
- EFSA cellulose re-evaluation: published January 16, amended January 31, 2018
- EU Regulation 2025/666: specifications and application dates, Articles 4–5 and Annex III
- FDA: gluten-free claims apply to the food, including ingredients and cross-contact
See how EatMatrix reads an ingredient list before trying the app. Compare a scan with the physical label.
Identity and food-use sources checked . The E number alone does not tell you the amount in a product. Wider scientific and market checks are described below.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- None recorded
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Selected research on E460
How to read study types- Regulator reviewEFSA re-evaluation of celluloses
Celluloses are not absorbed and pass through the gut. No DNA or cancer concern, no need for a numerical daily limit and no safety concern at reported uses.
Summaries of each source's published abstract or statement, checked . This is a selection of sources, not a complete literature review. Authority assessments apply to the uses and places they cover.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Very large intakes may cause mild digestive effects such as bloating or gas, similar to other insoluble fibers.
- Generally recognized as safe at typical food use levels.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS), EFSA Journal (2018). The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) provides a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of various celluloses including microcrystalline cellulose (E 460) as food additives. The Panel concluded that there is no need for a numerical ADI for these cellulose derivatives and that there is no safety concern for the general population when these substances are used as food additives.[safe]
- Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2018). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E460
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E460: Cellulose. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E460 (Cellulose) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named Canadian use conditions located Cellulose, powdered cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose records are shown separately. Match the actual physical form and food use. EatMatrix reading: Match the named preparation, specifications, food, purpose and every limit below before using these rows for a product decision. Name and category review: . This describes the legal source check, not a finding that the ingredient is safe, unsafe or untested. Sources and names checkedNames checked: Microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose; Microcrystalline Cellulose; Cellulose; Cellulose, Powdered. All 15 Health Canada permitted-additive lists were checked by exact name, with the reviewed alternatives above. E-numbers alone are not Canadian ingredient names. The Justice Canada consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026. A complete product decision also requires its composition, specifications, intended food and use, quantities, applicable separate provisions and any later changes. Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Cellulose, powdered cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose records are shown separately. Match the actual physical form and food use. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 31 listed food-use conditionsCelluloseHealth Canada: List of Permitted Anticaking Agents. List published ; item C.4.
Microcrystalline CelluloseHealth Canada: List of Permitted Anticaking Agents. List published ; item M.5.
Microcrystalline CelluloseHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item M.4.
Cellulose, PowderedHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use. List published ; item C.16.
Microcrystalline CelluloseHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use. List published ; item M.7.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Selected research
- 1 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment sources
- Commission-listed EFSA references for E460. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 2 research links; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe |
Official assessment sources for E460
The European Commission’s re-evaluation table lists official EFSA documents for this additive. Their identifiers and subjects were checked against publisher bibliographic records. A missing research link in the EatMatrix database does not mean the additive has never been assessed.
Name in the Commission table: Cellulose.
- Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives
EFSA scientific opinion. Published: .
These are assessment references, including historical or group assessments. They do not establish the latest scientific conclusion, a human health benefit or risk, or current permission to use the additive in a particular food. Later assessments, corrections and food-use conditions need separate review. The recorded EatMatrix rating above is unchanged.
European Commission re-evaluation table, status as of . EatMatrix checked this bibliography on .
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E460?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E460 (Microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose) is “Safe”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E460 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E460 and why is it used?
Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and powdered cellulose are purified forms of plant fiber (cellulose) used as anti-caking agents, bulking agents, and texturizers. They are common in shredded cheese (to prevent clumping), low-fat foods, sauces, and dietary supplement tablets, where they add bulk without calories. As insoluble fiber, they pass through the digestive system largely unchanged. They are considered safe and are widely used across the food and supplement industries.
Does E460 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose.
Which cellulose is E460(ii)?
E460(ii) is powdered cellulose. E460(i) is microcrystalline cellulose, also called MCC. This catalogue groups both forms in the E460 entry and has a separate MCC entry; match the actual subtype on your food label.
Does powdered cellulose or anti-caking agent E460 prove a food is gluten-free?
A cellulose ingredient name or E460 code alone cannot establish that the whole food is gluten-free. Read the complete food label and gluten-free claim. US FDA requirements cover ingredients and cross-contact; contact the manufacturer if unclear. A catalogue entry or app scan cannot certify compliance.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.