Is Carboxymethyl Cellulose(CMC) suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets?
2026-04-13 10:50:40
Is Carboxymethyl Cellulose(CMC) suitable for vegan and vegetarian diets?
Yes,CMC(carboxymethyl cellulose/cellulose gum,E466)is fully suitable for vegan,vegetarian,plant-based,and halal/kosher diets.
Reasons it is vegan-friendly:
It is made from plant-based cellulose(from cotton linters or wood pulp).
Its production uses only synthetic/chemical reagents—no animal products,animal derivatives,or animal testing.
No gelatin,dairy,egg,honey,or other animal-sourced ingredients are involved.
It is widely used in vegan ice cream,plant-based yogurt,vegan cheese,and gluten-free vegan baked goods as a stabilizer.
Who can safely use it:
Vegans
Vegetarians(lacto-ovo,lactose-free,etc.)
Plant-based eaters
Kosher/halal consumers(most food-grade CMC is certified kosher/halal)
In short:CMC is 90%vegan and vegetarian-safe.
References
GB/T 7714
European Food Safety Authority.Scientific Opinion on the Re‑evaluation of Cellulose Gum(E 466)as a Food Additive[J].EFSA Journal,2017,15(12):e05083.
MLA
European Food Safety Authority."Scientific Opinion on the Re‑evaluation of Cellulose Gum(E 466)as a Food Additive."EFSA Journal,vol.15,no.12,2017,p.e05083.
APA
European Food Safety Authority.(2017).Scientific opinion on the re‑evaluation of cellulose gum(E 466)as a food additive.EFSA Journal,15(12),e05083.
