Ingredient Index · E466

Is Carboxymethylcellulose (E466) banned in Europe?

Legal in both

No: carboxymethylcellulose, the thickener you see on labels as cellulose gum, is permitted in both the EU and the US. It is not banned anywhere. But it is one of the emulsifiers the newer gut-microbiome research is asking harder questions about.

E-number: E466CAS: 9004-32-4 Also seen as: Carboxymethylcellulose, Cellulose gum, Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC, E466

What the EU does

Permitted, with an open question. Carboxymethylcellulose is authorized as a food additive in the EU under the number E466, used as a thickener and stabilizer. It is not banned. In 2022, though, EFSA re-evaluated it and could not fully close the file: the panel identified data gaps and said additional studies were needed, particularly around use in foods for infants below 16 weeks and around whether the microbiome changes seen in some studies persist and matter for health.

That is an honest, in-between status. EFSA did not find a reason to pull E466, but it did flag that the science on emulsifiers and the gut is still developing, and asked for more evidence.

Citation E466 authorized under Reg (EC) No 1333/2008 (EU food additives); EFSA re-evaluation of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (E466), EFSA Journal 2022;20(12):7665 (data gaps identified)

What the US does

Permitted. In the US, carboxymethylcellulose is recognized as safe for food use and listed in the Code of Federal Regulations, appearing on labels as cellulose gum in everything from ice cream to salad dressing to gluten-free baked goods. There is no US move to restrict it.

So this is a rare entry where the two systems agree, both allow it, and the interesting story is not a transatlantic gap but a scientific one: a cluster of recent human and animal studies suggesting some dietary emulsifiers can disturb the gut lining and microbiome. That research is still early, and it is a reason to watch the category, not to panic about a single ingredient.

Citation US: cellulose gum affirmed for food use, 21 CFR 182.1745 (sodium carboxymethylcellulose); controlled-feeding studies on CMC and the gut microbiome, 2021-2025

Products that commonly contain it

Cellulose gum is a texture workhorse, so it turns up in:

Ice cream and frozen desserts
Salad dressings and sauces
Gluten-free and low-fat baked goods
Some drinks, supplements, and toothpaste

What to look for on a label

This one you can actually spot on the label:

Look for "cellulose gum," "carboxymethylcellulose," or "E466"
It is most common in processed and ultra-processed foods, so cooking from scratch avoids it
Its presence is a marker of a heavily formulated product, not a safety alarm in itself

Or skip the squinting: paste the whole ingredient list into our checker and it flags everything in our database. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.

Frequently asked questions

Is carboxymethylcellulose banned in Europe?

No. It is a permitted food additive in the EU (E466) and in the US (cellulose gum). It is not banned in either place.

So why does it come up in "bad additives" lists?

Because a 2022 EFSA re-evaluation flagged data gaps, and recent human and animal studies suggest some emulsifiers may disturb the gut microbiome. The science is still developing.

Should I avoid it?

There is no regulatory reason to. If you want to limit emulsifiers generally while the research matures, cooking from scratch is the simplest way, since cellulose gum lives mostly in processed foods.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 13, 2026 · How we assign statuses