E466 / Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers
Carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose
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
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), also called sodium carboxymethylcellulose or cellulose gum, is a plant-derived thickener made from wood pulp or cotton. In food it is used to thicken sauces, stabilize ice cream, and improve texture in baked goods. It is considered safe by EFSA and the FDA at typical use levels, though it is one of several emulsifiers studied for possible effects on gut bacteria when consumed in large, repeated amounts.
Also appears on labels as: Carboxymethylcellulose, Sodium carboxymethylcellulose, CMC, NaCMC, Cellulose gum, Modified cellulose, Cellulose carboxymethyl ether, Carboxymethyl cellulose, Carboxy methyl cellulose, Cellulose, carboxymethyl ether, sodium salt, Sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose, Sodium CMC.
Is E466 halal or vegan, and what is cellulose gum?
E466 is sodium carboxymethylcellulose, also called cellulose gum or CMC; WHO/JECFA identifies it as INS 466. It is made by modifying cellulose from fibrous plant material. Its thickening, stabilising and emulsifying functions help control food texture and keep mixtures consistent.
ECC Halal lists E466 as halal, describing its plant origin. That ingredient classification is not a certificate for a packaged food. The cellulose starting material is also plant-derived, but a whole product’s vegan suitability depends on its other ingredients and manufacture. Read the full label and check the product’s certification or ask its manufacturer when uncertain; an E number or app scan cannot certify either standard.
- WHO/JECFA: sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, INS 466, names and food functions
- EFSA E466 follow-up: published December 9, 2022; publisher notes an editorial correction
- ECC Halal: E-number classification and limits of a checker
- The Vegan Society: product ingredients and manufacture standards
- FDA: gluten-free claims apply to the food
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
How to connect a food label with a gut study
Finding “cellulose gum” or “E466” tells you which ingredient to look up. The name alone does not tell you the amount in your serving or its effect on you. Check three things before applying a study to your food.
- The ingredient
- Was the study about CMC, another emulsifier, or a diet containing several additives? Match the substance before transferring a conclusion.
- The exposure
- Compare the tested amount and duration with what is known about the food. An E number alone cannot supply that information.
- The outcome
- Symptoms, gut bacteria, blood markers and diagnosed disease are different outcomes. Check which one the researchers actually measured.
The controlled-feeding trial compared a CMC-containing diet with a control diet. Its tested exposure does not establish the amount in an ordinary product or a personal safe limit. Read the study abstract, then compare the findings and limits below.
Need help matching an ingredient name? See how EatMatrix works. Check the scan against the physical label; it does not measure an additive’s amount or diagnose a condition.
By EatMatrix. Label-to-study aid checked . General information, not intended to diagnose, treat or cure a condition. Study findings and access limits are detailed below.
What selected human studies mean for E466
A newer randomized pilot: changes are not all the same
First published online in August 2025, with its journal issue in April 2026, this exploratory study describes 60 healthy volunteers. After two weeks on an emulsifier-free diet, participants continued for four weeks with one of five added preparations or no additives. It found no significant differences from placebo in measured intestinal or systemic inflammation, or metabolic endpoints. Stool bacteria and fermentation products can change without proving clinical disease.
The CMC group had lower stool short-chain fatty acids than placebo. These are bacterial fermentation products; a stool change alone does not diagnose gut damage or inflammatory disease.
The initial cholesterol decrease occurred during the shared diet phase. It cannot identify a benefit caused by removing this one additive. Small arms and short follow-up leave longer-term effects uncertain.
Earlier controlled feeding: what CMC changed
Sixteen healthy adults ate controlled diets for 11 days: seven received 15 g/day of CMC and nine received none. Researchers observed changes in gut bacteria and stool metabolites, plus modest discomfort after meals. Two exposed participants had bacteria moving closer to the gut lining. No severe adverse events or increase in measured blood inflammatory cytokines was observed. These observations did not establish that participants developed inflammatory bowel disease.
The authors say this CMC amount likely exceeds most people’s intake. The study does not define a safe threshold for an ordinary food or prove long-term harm. A later paper reused these participants and transferred selected stool samples into mice; it is not a second independent human trial or a validated test of your personal sensitivity.
Disease-specific diets answer another question
A 2025 exploratory trial assigned 24 people with active Crohn’s disease to higher- or lower-emulsifier diets for four weeks. Outcomes improved in both groups, with no significant difference between diets. Many additives varied together. Carrageenan and polysorbate-80 exposures were low, while CMC’s amount could not be quantified. This cannot isolate this additive or overturn a trial using a different dose and population.
EatMatrix’s reading and a practical choice
A study can raise a useful question without settling whether an additive causes illness. We keep the tested form, comparison, measured outcome and unanswered questions together. Compare the whole food, including fibre, salt, free sugars and how often you eat it. An E number alone does not tell you the amount you consumed.
If you have inflammatory bowel disease or persistent symptoms, discuss food changes with your care team; a restrictive diet based on these summaries is not a proven personal treatment. WHO healthy-diet guidance
Selected sources checked 9 October 2026. Cohort and five-preparation trial: abstracts read; full methods, supplements and complete funding/conflict appraisal remain pending. CMC, insulin-sensitivity, colitis and whole-diet trials: selected main-text methods/results/limitations and declarations read, not all supplements. Some CMC, insulin and whole-diet trial authors disclose industry relationships; the colitis pilot reports foundation funding and no potential conflicts. Indexed comments were identified, but their complete texts were not all accessible; absence of an indexed correction is not proof none exists. This is not an exhaustive clinical or current-country-use review. Recorded ratings and country permissions are unchanged.
Selected research on E466
How to read study types- Randomized trialFive-additive pilot trial (online 2025; April 2026 issue)
Four-week pilot: no significant placebo difference in inflammation/metabolic endpoints. The CMC group had lower stool short-chain fatty acids than placebo. These are bacterial fermentation products; a stool change alone does not diagnose gut damage or inflammatory disease.
- Randomized trialRelated whole-diet trial in active Crohn’s disease
Related whole-diet context: 24 patients with active Crohn’s disease had no significant between-diet outcome differences over four weeks. Many additives varied together; selected exposures were low or unquantified. This does not isolate the effect of this one additive.
- Regulator reviewEFSA follow-up review of sodium carboxymethylcellulose
Data are still not enough to judge its safety in special medical foods for babies and young children. EFSA supported updated purity specifications.
- Randomized trialCMC controlled-feeding trial (online 2021; 2022 journal issue)
Sixteen healthy adults received controlled diets, with seven assigned 15 g/day CMC for 11 days. Microbiota/metabolites and modest meal-related discomfort changed. The high exposure and short small trial do not establish long-term disease risk at ordinary food intakes.
- 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.
Earlier source summaries checked ; latest additions checked . See the detailed research section for what was read and the remaining limits. 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
- Some animal and preliminary human studies suggest emulsifiers like CMC may alter gut microbiota composition and intestinal inflammation with high, sustained intake; evidence in humans at typical dietary levels is still limited.
- Large amounts can have a mild laxative effect.
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, 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 E466
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 E466: Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, Cellulose gum. 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 E466 (Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, Cellulose gum) 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 | Selected US conditions for Sodium carboxymethylcellulose Official federal text current through ; read . Food uses, limits and exceptionsThe specification is part of the listing The GRAS provision specifies sodium carboxymethylcellulose of at least 99.5% on a dry-weight basis, maximum substitution of 0.95 carboxymethyl groups per anhydroglucose unit, and minimum viscosity of 25 centipoises for a 2% aqueous solution at 25°C. Good manufacturing practice applies. This does not establish the status of every chemically modified cellulose. EatMatrix’s reading: a legal use condition answers where and how an ingredient may be used. It is not a test of your product, a personal safe intake or a claim that the ingredient benefits your body. Match the named substance, food and amount. Other federal provisions, food standards, state rules and later changes may also apply; this is a selected source review, not a complete product-compliance decision. |
| 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 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. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. 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 18 listed food-use conditionsSodium Carboxymethyl CelluloseHealth Canada: List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents. List published ; item S.3.
Sodium Carboxymethyl CelluloseHealth Canada: List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Purposes of Use. List published ; item S.8.
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
- 5 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment sources
- Commission-listed EFSA references for E466. Bibliographic identity checked; latest findings and current use rules need separate review.
- Original ingredient record
- 1 research link; 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 |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe |
| Health Canada | Safe |
Official assessment sources for E466
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: Carboxy methyl cellulose, Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum (changed to "Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, Cellulose gum" on 12/2013).
- 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 E466?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E466 (Carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose) 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 E466 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose — 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 E466 and why is it used?
Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), also called sodium carboxymethylcellulose or cellulose gum, is a plant-derived thickener made from wood pulp or cotton. In food it is used to thicken sauces, stabilize ice cream, and improve texture in baked goods. It is considered safe by EFSA and the FDA at typical use levels, though it is one of several emulsifiers studied for possible effects on gut bacteria when consumed in large, repeated amounts.
Does E466 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
Is E466 halal or haram?
ECC Halal lists E466 as halal and describes it as a plant-origin cellulose thickener. Its checker is a starting point, not a product certificate. Other ingredients and manufacture still matter: check the actual food’s halal certification or contact its manufacturer or certifier. EatMatrix does not certify halal status.
Is E466 vegan?
E466 is made from plant cellulose, according to the definition reproduced in EFSA’s E466 opinion. Plant origin explains this additive’s starting material; it does not verify the whole food’s other ingredients or manufacture. The Vegan Society’s product standard covers both ingredients and manufacture. Check the full label, a suitable certification or the manufacturer.
Does thickener 466 mean a food is gluten-free?
Thickener 466 or INS 466 identifies sodium carboxymethylcellulose, also called cellulose gum. That ingredient name alone does not establish whether the whole food is gluten-free. Check the full label and the product’s gluten-free claim; FDA requirements apply to the food. An EatMatrix ingredient lookup or scan cannot certify gluten-free 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.