Emulsifier · EU 461
Methyl Cellulose
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Methyl Cellulose is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 4 out of 5 (Low Risk), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. By tracked product count it ranks #190 of 417.
- #190 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Methyl Cellulose is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #190 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (54th percentile).
- 4/5
- Low Risk
- Approved
- FDA status
- #190 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Methyl Cellulose: 25 tracked U.S. products (moderate band, #190 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 25 · #190 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 461 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Emulsifier | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 4 / 5 (Low Risk) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
What is Methyl Cellulose?
METHYL CELLULOSE is a chemical compound derived from cellulose. Methyl cellulose is added to food products, to generate their characteristic thick consistency, for example ice cream or croquette.
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a moderate OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (25 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Methyl Cellulose safe to consume?
Methyl Cellulose scores 4/5 (Low Risk). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a moderate additive (25 tracked products, #190 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Methyl Cellulose used for in food?
Methyl Cellulose shows up as Sauces, dressings, baked goods, ice cream in the Emulsifier class, and the OFF sample puts it in the moderate footprint band (25 products).
Where does Methyl Cellulose sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #190 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.