{
  "$schema": "https://foodadditiveindex.com/api/v1/schema.json",
  "id": "https://foodadditiveindex.com/additives/methyl-cellulose",
  "slug": "methyl-cellulose",
  "name": "Methyl cellulose",
  "identifiers": {
    "e_number": "E461",
    "ins_number": "461",
    "cas_number": "9004-67-5",
    "inchikey": null,
    "pubchem_cid": null
  },
  "functional_class": "Emulsifier",
  "summary": "Methylcellulose is a thickener with an unusual property: it gels when heated and melts when cooled, the reverse of gelatin. That behaviour is what holds many plant-based burgers together during cooking.",
  "derivation_summary": "Made by treating purified cellulose with methylating agents. The cellulose comes from wood pulp or cotton; no animal material is involved.",
  "regulatory_status": [
    {
      "jurisdiction": "US",
      "jurisdiction_name": "United States",
      "authority": "Food and Drug Administration",
      "status": "not_listed",
      "status_label": "Not listed",
      "note": "Does not appear on this jurisdiction’s permitted list. That is not the same as being prohibited.",
      "provision_count": 0,
      "provisions": []
    },
    {
      "jurisdiction": "CODEX",
      "jurisdiction_name": "Codex Alimentarius",
      "authority": "Codex Alimentarius Commission / JECFA",
      "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
      "status_label": "Permitted, with conditions",
      "provision_count": 18,
      "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 461",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "01.2.1.1",
            "name": "Fermented milks (plain), not heat-treated after fermentation"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 234, 235 & 634",
          "effective_from": "2024",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 01.2.1.1",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "01.2.1.2",
            "name": "Fermented milks (plain), heat-treated after fermentation"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 234",
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 01.2.1.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "01.2.2",
            "name": "Renneted milk (plain)"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 01.2.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "01.4.1",
            "name": "Pasteurized cream (plain)"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: XS288",
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 01.4.1",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "01.4.2",
            "name": "Sterilized and UHT creams, whipping and whipped creams, and reduced fat creams (plain)"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2013",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 01.4.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "08.1.1",
            "name": "Fresh meat, poultry and game, whole pieces or cuts"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 16 & 326",
          "effective_from": "2015",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 08.1.1",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "08.1.2",
            "name": "Fresh meat, poultry and game, comminuted"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 281",
          "effective_from": "2014",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 08.1.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.1",
            "name": "Frozen fish, fish fillets, and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 332, 391, XS36, XS92, XS95, XS190, XS191, XS292, XS312 & XS315",
          "effective_from": "2017",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 09.2.1",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.2",
            "name": "Frozen battered fish, fish fillets and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 177 & 332",
          "effective_from": "2015",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 09.2.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.3",
            "name": "Frozen minced and creamed fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 16",
          "effective_from": "2014",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 09.2.3",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.4.1",
            "name": "Cooked fish and fish products"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 16 & 325",
          "effective_from": "2015",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 09.2.4.1",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.4.2",
            "name": "Cooked molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 16",
          "effective_from": "2015",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 09.2.4.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.4.3",
            "name": "Fried fish and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 41, 325 & 332",
          "effective_from": "2015",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 09.2.4.3",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "09.2.5",
            "name": "Smoked, dried, fermented, and/or salted fish and fish products, including molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 300, 332, XS167, XS189, XS222, XS236, XS244 & XS311",
          "effective_from": "2018",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 09.2.5",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "11.4",
            "name": "Other sugars and syrups (e.g. xylose, maple syrup, sugar toppings)"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 258",
          "effective_from": "2014",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 11.4",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "12.1.2",
            "name": "Salt substitutes"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": null,
          "effective_from": "2014",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 12.1.2",
            "url": "https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/codex-texts/dbs/gsfa/en/"
          },
          "source": "gsfa",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-09-07T07:54:15.059Z"
        },
        {
          "status": "permitted_with_conditions",
          "food_category": {
            "system": "codex",
            "code": "14.1.5",
            "name": "Coffee, coffee substitutes, tea, herbal infusions, and other hot cereal and grain beverages, excluding cocoa"
          },
          "max_level": null,
          "max_level_unit": "GMP",
          "conditions": "GSFA notes: 160",
          "effective_from": "2014",
          "citation": {
            "ref": "CXS 192-1995 Table One, INS 461, food category 14.1.5",
            "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": "9004-67-5",
      "type": "cas",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cellulose methyl ether",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "E 461",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "METHYL CELLULOSE",
      "type": "common",
      "source": "gsfa"
    },
    {
      "name": "E461",
      "type": "e_number",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    },
    {
      "name": "461",
      "type": "ins",
      "source": "gsfa"
    },
    {
      "name": "(5R)-2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)-5-[(2S)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxane",
      "type": "iupac",
      "source": "openfoodtox"
    }
  ],
  "hazard_reference_values": [],
  "sources": [
    {
      "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, \"Methyl cellulose\", https://foodadditiveindex.com/additives/methyl-cellulose. This site reports regulatory status and does not rate additives.",
  "generated_at": "2026-09-08T00:09:38.594Z"
}