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E469ThickenerLow concern
Enzymatically Hydrolysed Carboxymethylcellulose
In plain words
The short version
Enzymatically broken-down CMC — lower viscosity and improved colloidal stability for dairy applications.
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; behaves as soluble fiber.
The detail
Manufactured by treating carboxymethylcellulose (E466) with cellulase enzymes that selectively shorten the polymer chains. The lower molecular weight gives lower viscosity but maintains the protein-stabilization effect important to dairy.
Used in yogurts, fermented milk drinks, and acidified protein beverages to prevent casein flocculation at low pH while keeping mouthfeel light. The enzymatic shortening avoids the viscous mouthfeel that full-MW CMC would introduce.
White to off-white powder. Soluble in cold water with lower viscosity than the parent CMC.
Permitted in the EU, where it was already listed under Directive 95/2/EC by 2003; it is now a Group I additive under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, allowed at quantum satis (no fixed numerical limit) in the food categories where Group I additives are permitted.
Sources
- EFSA ANS Panel — Re-evaluation of celluloses E 460(i)–E 469 as food additives (2018), EFSA Journal 16(1):5047, doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5047 (PMC full text) — European Food Safety Authority, 2018. No numerical ADI needed; not absorbed; no safety concern for E 469
- WHO JECFA database — Enzymatically hydrolyzed carboxymethyl cellulose (INS 469), 51st meeting (1998) — WHO / FAO JECFA, 1998. ADI not specified (group with other modified celluloses)
- EUR-Lex — Directive 2003/114/EC amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners (22 Dec 2003) — European Union (EUR-Lex), 2003. E 469 already listed in EU law before 2010
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, consolidated text of 18 August 2026 — European Union (EUR-Lex), 2026. Current EU authorisation of E 469 at quantum satis (Group I)
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.