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E462ThickenerLow concern
Ethylcellulose
In plain words
The short version
An ethyl-ether modification of cellulose — used as an oleogel structurant and a pharmaceutical film former.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
ADI not specified — considered safe. Not absorbed in digestion; behaves as insoluble dietary fiber.
The detail
Manufactured by treating cellulose with sodium hydroxide and ethyl chloride. Unlike methylcellulose, ethylcellulose is oil-soluble — its commercial use sits at the boundary between food and pharmaceuticals.
The standard structurant for edible oleogels — solid-fat replacers built from liquid vegetable oil (used in vegan butter analogs and reduced-saturated-fat formulations). Also a major film-forming polymer for vitamin coatings and controlled-release pharmaceutical tablets. Food use is relatively niche compared to other modified celluloses.
White to off-white granular powder. Insoluble in water; soluble in many organic solvents and oils. Forms transparent films and gels in oil. Heat-stable.
Permitted in the EU and most jurisdictions. In the US, it is approved as a food additive for three uses: a binder and filler in dry vitamin preparations, a component of protective coatings for vitamin and mineral tablets, and a fixative in flavoring compounds.
Sources
- EFSA — Re-evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives (2018) — EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources (ANS), EFSA Journal 16(1):5047, 2018. No numerical ADI; not absorbed
- JECFA — Ethyl cellulose (INS 462), evaluation summary — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 1989. JECFA group ADI not specified for modified celluloses
- US 21 CFR 172.868 — Ethyl cellulose — US eCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. US permitted food uses
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.