Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum (E466)
- Food Fine
What is Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum (E466)?
Carboxymethyl cellulose, or cellulose gum (E466), is a modified plant fibre that thickens ice cream, sauces and drinks. Standard safety tests are reassuring; small human studies saw some changes in gut bacteria but no inflammation or disease. It's fine at normal amounts.
What is Yasno’s verdict on Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum?
Yasno’s verdict on Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum: Fine. No meaningful concern at normal amounts.
Is Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum allowed in the EU?
EU status of Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cellulose gum: Permitted as a food additive. Conditions and limits come from the regulation cited below. Yasno summarises them and does not replace the legal text.
| Where | EU | US |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Permitted as a food additive | Not recorded |
What else is it called?
- Carboxymethyl cellulose
- Carboxymethylcellulose
- CMC
Sources
- EU Food Additives Register — POL-FAD-IMPORT-3171, European Commission (DG SANTE), 2025
- EFSA’s 2018 review of celluloses, including sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (E466), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2018
- EFSA’s 2022 follow-up on sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (E466), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2022
Always check the physical label. Yasno describes evidence and regulatory status. It never says a product is free of an allergen or safe for you, and it is not medical advice.
Yasno reads the whole label from a photo and explains every ingredient like this. It is coming soon to the App Store.