Additives
Carboxymethyl Cellulose (E466): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Moderate
Thickener / Stabiliser · Thickener
Modified cellulose. A 2021 study in Gastroenterology found that CMC altered gut microbiome composition and promoted low-grade inflammation in healthy adults. EFSA is reviewing this evidence.
- Category
- Thickener / Stabiliser — Thickener
- Typically used in
- Ice cream, cream cheese, salad dressings, gluten-free foods
- Regulatory status
- EFSA under review. Gut microbiome study 2021 raised concerns.
- Also listed as
- CMC
- Concerns flagged
-
Gut-microbiome effectsInflammation link
Scrannr flags Carboxymethyl Cellulose automatically when you scan a barcode.
Sources
Where this comes from
- Gastroenterology (2022) — Randomized Controlled-Feeding Study of Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose Reveals Detrimental Impacts on the Gut Microbiota and Metabolome https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2021.09.037
- Chassaing et al. (2015) — Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome https://www.nature.com/articles/nature14232
- Shi et al. (2025) — Polysorbate 80 and carboxymethylcellulose: A different impact on epithelial integrity when interacting with the microbiome https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39778648/
Products
Products containing Carboxymethyl Cellulose
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