E461 — Methyl cellulose
E461 (methyl cellulose) appears in the ingredient lists of 1,475 products sold in the United States. Function: emulsifier, stabilizer, thickener.
Nutri-Score
1,265 rated products
Median values
| Calories | 244 kcal |
| Sugars | 2.4 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.7 g |
| Salt | 1.1 g |
Categories
- Frozen foods247
- Pizzas169
- Breads121
- Cakes98
- Snacks80
- Meat analogues56
- Frozen desserts45
- Frozen meats40
Status in the United States (FDA)
Listed in the FDA inventory “Substances Added to Food”, with the regulations 21 CFR 182.1480.
Technical effects listed by the FDA: emulsifier or emulsifier salt, flavor enhancer, stabilizer or thickener
The inventory is a partial list, and a listing is not an FDA approval of every use; the regulations set the permitted uses.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Substances Added to Food (updated 9/8/2026), public domain · CAS 9004-67-5 via Wikidata (CC0)
Products containing it, by country
Products listing this additive in each country edition of Shelfpedia (Open Food Facts data)
Products
1,475 products, most viewed first · page 1 of 31.
Source: Open Food Facts export of 23 October 2026, ODbL, and USDA FoodData Central, April 2026 release, CC0 · Shelfpedia calculations (medians, distributions).