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E460 — Cellulose

Thickener

E460 (Cellulose), a thickener, is rated "watch": fine in moderation. Purified plant fiber. Used as a bulking agent and anti-caking agent in shredded cheese, baked goods, and supplements. Inert and unabsorbed.

What is Cellulose?

Purified plant cell-wall fiber, usually from wood pulp or cotton. Used in shredded cheese (to stop clumping), high-fiber breads, low-calorie foods, and as a tablet binder.

What does it do to the body?

Insoluble fiber that passes through your gut unchanged. Adds bulk to stool. No realistic safety concern; this is essentially what makes up most vegetables.

What regulators say

EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical acceptable daily intake.

Risk rating: Watch

Mixed evidence or a specific concern (gut, allergy, or contested safety data). Not alarming, but worth keeping an eye on rather than eating without limit.

E-number: E460Category: ThickenerAlso known as: cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose

Frequently asked questions

Is E460 (Cellulose) safe?
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical acceptable daily intake.
What is E460 (Cellulose)?
Purified plant cell-wall fiber, usually from wood pulp or cotton. Used in shredded cheese (to stop clumping), high-fiber breads, low-calorie foods, and as a tablet binder.
What does Cellulose do to the body?
Insoluble fiber that passes through your gut unchanged. Adds bulk to stool. No realistic safety concern; this is essentially what makes up most vegetables.
What are other names for E460?
E460 is also known as cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose.

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