E461Emulsifier · Stabiliser · Thickener
Methyl cellulose
What the research shows
PrototypeNot enough
published research on this page yet
1 health finding on this page so far · See the findings
What research says
Studies in people
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Benefit
Blood sugar after meals3
In people, methyl cellulose and similar fibers lowered the insulin spike after a meal.
Study type not stated
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Benefit
Oil and chemical hazards in fried food4
Coating fried dough cakes with methyl cellulose cut the oil and unwanted chemicals that form during frying.
How it’s made and used
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Fat digestion5
In lab studies, methyl cellulose slowed how fast fat was broken down during digestion.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
United States Permitted FDA 21 CFR 182.1480
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European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
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Canada Permitted Health Canada · Emulsifying Gelling Stabilizing Thickening Agents
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 2,217 products on Open Food Facts that list methyl cellulose.
- MEAT-FREE TASTY SAUSAGES RICHMOND · 304 g 3 additives
- Beyond Burger Beyond Meat · 226 g 3 additives
- 6 sausages vegan Linda McCartney · 270 g 4 additives
- Lincolnshire sausages Cauldron · 276 g 4 additives
- This isn't pork sausages This · 270 g 6 additives
- mozzarella 1/4lb burgers Linda McCartney · 227 g, 2 burgers 1 additive
References
- 1methyl cellulose: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
- 2Methyl cellulose. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026.
- 3Maki KC, Carson ML, Miller MP, et al. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and methylcellulose consumption reduce postprandial insulinemia in overweight and obese men and women. J Nutr. 2008;138(2):292-6. doi:10.1093/jn/138.2.292
- 4Han L, He YE, Wang S, et al. Effects of Methyl Cellulose and Soybean Protein Isolate Coating on Amount of Oil and Chemical Hazards in Chinese Fried Dough Cake. J Food Prot. 2021;84(8):1333-1339. doi:10.4315/JFP-21-062
- 5Zhang L, Halket J, Caldwell A, Vllasaliu D, Bajka B, Dreiss CA. Controlling in vitro lipid digestion: Pickering emulsions with cellulose nanocrystals, chitosan and methylcellulose. Food Res Int. 2025;218:116793. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116793