Emulsifiers & thickeners · Food additive

Cellulose gum (Carboxymethylcellulose, E466)

Updated October 2, 2026

Cellulose gum (E466) is a food additive in the “emulsifiers & thickeners” group. It appears in 18,250 products in our database, 12,426 of them sold in the US.

Quick facts

Also known as
Carboxymethylcellulose, CMC, Sodium carboxymethylcellulose, E466
E-number
E466
Function
Emulsifiers & thickeners
Found in
18,250 products (12,426 sold in the US)

Foods that commonly contain Cellulose gum

Frozen desserts 28% · 3,038
Cakes 17% · 1,594
Beverages 2% · 438
Biscuits 2% · 387
Breads 2% · 367
Pastries 9% · 366
Simple syrups 26% · 308

Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Cellulose gum.

Popular products with Cellulose gum

Cellulose gum-free alternatives

Popular products from the same categories that don't list Cellulose gum and score Nutri-Score A–C.

How to spot Cellulose gum on a label

Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:

Cellulose gumCarboxymethylcelluloseCMCSodium carboxymethylcelluloseE466

Related additives

Frequently asked questions

What foods contain Cellulose gum?

In our database, Cellulose gum most often appears in frozen desserts, cakes, beverages and biscuits.

How many products contain Cellulose gum?

18,250 published products on Foodmetria list Cellulose gum, including 12,426 sold in the United States. Counts come from ingredient lists in Open Food Facts and update daily.

Product data: Open Food Facts (ODbL), updated daily. Additive information is for general education and is not medical advice. Always check the package label. Our methodology.