Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC)
Function: Emulsifier/Thickener
E466 is the European food-additive number for Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC), an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) (E466) is an emulsifier used as a food additive.
What is E466 used for?
Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) (E466) is an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. It is added during food production for a technological purpose rather than for nutrition. See all emulsifiers (E-numbers).
Is E466 safe or restricted?
E466 is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as “Under monitoring” and does not make health claims. See the methodology for how regulatory levels are assigned, or the guide to how EU additives are approved, re-evaluated and banned.
Is E466 vegan or vegetarian?
Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) (E466) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The production source can vary between manufacturers — the Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product. Always read the label for allergens.
Which foods contain E466?
E466 appears in 30,879 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in ice cream, protein powder / shake and cakes.
- Ice Cream3,407
- Protein Powder / Shake2,339
- Cakes1,855
- Tortilla / Wrap775
- Pastry680
- Flavored Syrups673
- Chewing Gum507
- Cake Mixes424
Often appears alongside
Additives most frequently found in the same ingredient lists as E466 across the catalogue.
Counts reflect Forkin's independently enriched product catalogue and update as new products are added — they are not a market-share statistic.
Frequently asked questions about E466
- What is E466?
- E466 is the E-number for Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC), an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) (E466) is an emulsifier used as a food additive.
- What is E466 used for?
- Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) (E466) is an emulsifier — helps ingredients that normally separate, like oil and water, stay mixed. Manufacturers add it during processing rather than for nutrition. The Forkin app shows which products in your scan history actually contain it.
- Which foods contain E466?
- E466 appears in 30,879 of the 4.6 million products in Forkin's catalogue — most often in ice cream, protein powder / shake and cakes. Scan any barcode with the Forkin app to see instantly whether a specific product contains it.
- Is E466 vegan or vegetarian?
- Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) (E466) is typically produced from plant, mineral, or synthetic sources, so it is generally suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The Forkin app shows the verified vegan and vegetarian status per product, since the source can vary between manufacturers.
- Is E466 safe, and is it banned anywhere?
- E466 is approved for use in the EU. It sits among the additives EFSA keeps under ongoing review as new evidence is published. Forkin classifies it as "Under monitoring" and does not make health claims — see the methodology page for how regulatory levels are assigned, and the Forkin app for the full profile, including acceptable daily intake (ADI) and restrictions by country.
See the full profile in Forkin
The Forkin app surfaces the full regulatory profile of E466 — acceptable daily intake (ADI), restrictions by country, vegan/vegetarian status, alternative names, and which products in your scan history contain it. See how Forkin compares to other scanners or view pricing.