Emulsifiers & thickeners · Food additive

Methyl cellulose (E461)

Updated October 2, 2026

Methyl cellulose (E461) is a food additive in the “emulsifiers & thickeners” group. It appears in 5,494 products in our database, 1,502 of them sold in the US.

Quick facts

Also known as
E461
E-number
E461
Function
Emulsifiers & thickeners
Found in
5,494 products (1,502 sold in the US)

Foods that commonly contain Methyl cellulose

Meat analogues 21% · 584
Frozen foods 3% · 278
Vegetarian sausages 32% · 200
Pizzas 3% · 187
Vegetarian patties 16% · 171
Breads 1% · 130
Vegan patties 35% · 114
Cakes 1% · 108

Share of published products in each category whose ingredient list includes Methyl cellulose.

Popular products with Methyl cellulose

Methyl cellulose-free alternatives

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

How to spot Methyl cellulose on a label

Look for any of these names in the ingredient list:

Methyl celluloseE461

Related additives

Frequently asked questions

What foods contain Methyl cellulose?

In our database, Methyl cellulose most often appears in meat analogues, frozen foods, vegetarian sausages and pizzas.

How many products contain Methyl cellulose?

5,494 published products on Foodmetria list Methyl cellulose, including 1,502 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.