Is E466 (cellulose gum) halal?
E466 is halal. Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) is made from plant cellulose, usually wood pulp or cotton. There is no animal source, so there is nothing on the label to check.
Also known as / other names
cellulose gumcarboxymethylcellulosesodium carboxymethylcelluloseCMCE 466thickener 466
What E466 (cellulose gum, CMC) actually is
E466 thickens and stabilises food. It stops ice crystals forming in ice cream, keeps sauces smooth and gives body to low-fat products.
It is made by chemically modifying cellulose, the fibre that makes up plant cell walls.
Why this one is straightforward
The raw material is plant fibre. Our reference table marks E466 halal, as it does other cellulose additives such as E460.
How to check it yourself
- No check is needed for E466 itself.
Where you'll run into it
Ice cream and frozen desserts, sauces and dressings, low-fat and diet products, gluten-free bread and baked goods.
Sources
- EU register of authorised food additives — E466 identity and permitted uses
Best-effort guidance compiled from sourced references — not a religious ruling and not a certification. Schools of thought differ, and manufacturers change formulations without notice. Please verify with the producer or your local authority when it matters. How we decide a verdict.