{
  "$schema": "https://foodadditiveindex.com/api/v1/schema.json",
  "id": "https://foodadditiveindex.com/additives/ethyl-cellulose",
  "slug": "ethyl-cellulose",
  "name": "Ethyl cellulose",
  "identifiers": {
    "e_number": "E462",
    "ins_number": null,
    "cas_number": "9004-57-3",
    "inchikey": "ZZSNKZQZMQGXPY-UHFFFAOYSA-N",
    "pubchem_cid": 24832091
  },
  "functional_class": "Thickener",
  "summary": "Ethylcellulose is a film former and binder used in coatings and to encapsulate flavours, and as a structuring agent in some confectionery.",
  "derivation_summary": "Made by treating purified cellulose with ethylating agents. Unlike most modified celluloses it is not water-soluble, which is what makes it useful as a barrier film.",
  "regulatory_status": [
    {
      "jurisdiction": "US",
      "jurisdiction_name": "United States",
      "authority": "Food and Drug Administration",
      "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
      "status_label": "Permitted, with conditions",
      "provision_count": 1,
      "provisions": [
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": null,
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": null,
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": null,
          "citation": {
            "ref": "21 CFR 172.868",
            "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-172.868"
          },
          "source": "ecfr",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T18:25:51.549Z"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "CODEX",
      "jurisdiction_name": "Codex Alimentarius",
      "authority": "Codex Alimentarius Commission / JECFA",
      "status": "permitted",
      "status_label": "Permitted",
      "provision_count": 1,
      "provisions": [
        {
          "status": "permitted",
          "food_category": null,
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "1999",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table Three, INS 462",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "names": [
    {
      "name": "9004-57-3",
      "type": "cas",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Aquacoat",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cellulose ethyl ether",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "E 462",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ethyl cellulose",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ethyl cellulose pound EC pound(c)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ethyl cellulose viscosity 20cP",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ethyl cellulose, viscosity 45-55 cP, 5 % in toluene/ethanol 80:20(lit.)",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Surelease",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "E462",
      "type": "e_number",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "2-[4,5-diethoxy-2-(ethoxymethyl)-6-methoxy-oxan-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methoxy-oxane-3,4-diol",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "2-[4,5-diethoxy-2-(ethoxymethyl)-6-methoxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methoxyoxane-3,4-diol",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ethyl cellulose, viscosity 18-22 cP, 5 % in toluene/ethanol 80:20(lit.), extent of labeling: 4% ethoxyl",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ethyl cellulose, viscosity 9-11 cP, 5 % in toluene/ethanol 80:20(lit.), extent of labeling 48% ethoxyl",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ethyl cellulose, viscosity 90-110 cP, 5 % in toluene/ethanol 80:20(lit.), extent of labeling 48% ethoxyl",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "pubchem"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ethyl cellulose",
      "type": "label",
      "source": "ecfr"
    }
  ],
  "hazard_reference_values": [],
  "sources": [
    {
      "key": "ecfr",
      "name": "Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office / National Archives",
      "licence": "Public domain",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-31/title-21.xml",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T18:25:51.549Z"
    },
    {
      "key": "gsfa",
      "name": "Codex General Standard for Food Additives (CXS 192-1995)",
      "publisher": "Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO)",
      "licence": "FAO terms — non-commercial use with attribution",
      "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
    }
  ],
  "citation_policy": "Cite as: Food Additive Index, \"Ethyl cellulose\", https://foodadditiveindex.com/additives/ethyl-cellulose. This site reports regulatory status and does not rate additives.",
  "generated_at": "2026-09-08T00:09:38.526Z"
}