Thickeners

Increases the viscosity of a food.

200 additives that at least one regulator lists as thickeners: 83 by Canada, 109 by United States and 108 by Codex Alimentarius. Each mark shows the term that regulator used; follow it for the citation.

A function is not a permission. Being listed here says what a regulator treats the additive as, not that it is permitted in any particular food or place — its own page shows that. Where a regulator leaves a cell empty, it has not assigned this function in the sources this site reads; it may assign another, or none.

The US column is the least complete. Only some US listings name their technical effect by citing 21 CFR 170.3(o); many, especially in part 172, describe their use in their own words, and this site does not read a function into that prose. An empty US cell says little.

AdditiveCAUSCodex
Acetylated distarch adipate E1422——Thickener
Acetylated distarch phosphate E1414—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Acetylated monoglyceridesEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Acetylated oxidized starch E1451——Thickener
Acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglyceridesEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Acid-treated starch INS 1401——Thickener
Agar E406Thickening agent; Emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Alginic acid E400Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Alkaline treated starch INS 1402——Thickener
Ammonium alginate E403Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Ammonium phosphate, dibasic INS 342(ii)——Thickener
Ammonium phosphate, monobasic INS 342(i)——Thickener
Ammonium polyphosphate INS 452(v)——Thickener
Ammonium salt of phosphorylated glycerideEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agent——
ArabinogalactanEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Ascorbic acid E300—Stabilizer or thickener—
Bakers yeast glycanEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Beeswax (yellow and white) E901——Thickener
Bentonite E558—Stabilizer or thickener—
Bleached starch INS 1403——Thickener
Bone phosphate INS 542——Thickener
Calcium acetate E263—Stabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Calcium alginate E404Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Calcium carbonate E170Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Calcium chloride E509—Stabilizers and thickenersThickener
Calcium citrate E333Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Calcium gluconate E578Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Calcium glycerophosphateEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Calcium hydrogen phosphate E341Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Calcium hypophosphiteEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Calcium lactate E327—Stabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Calcium phosphate E341Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Calcium polyphosphate E452——Thickener
Calcium pyrophosphate E450——Thickener
Calcium stearate—Stabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate E482—Stabilizer or thickener—
Calcium sulfate E516Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Calcium tartrate E354Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Candelilla wax E902——Thickener
Carob bean gum E410Thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Carrageenan E407Thickening agent; Emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing or thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Carrageenan with polysorbate 80—Stabilizer or thickener—
Cassia gum E427——Thickener
Chymosin A from Escherichia coli K-12—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Chymosin B from Aspergillus niger var. awamori—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Chymosin from Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Citric and fatty acid esters of glycerol E472cEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Corn sugar—Stabilizer or thickener—
Cross-linked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Cross-linked-cellulose gum) E468——Thickener
Curdlan INS 424—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Cyclodextrin, alpha- INS 457Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Cyclodextrin, beta- E459——Thickener
Cyclodextrin, gamma- INS 458——Thickener
Defoaming agents—Stabilizer or thickener—
Dextrin INS 1400—Stabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate INS 480—Stabilizer or thickener—
Dipotassium phosphate E340Thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Disodium citrate E331(ii)—Stabilizer or thickener—
Disodium inosinate E631—Stabilizer or thickener—
Disodium phosphate E339Thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Distarch phosphate E1412——Thickener
Epoxidized soybean oil—Stabilizer or thickener—
Ethyl cellulose E462—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose INS 467——Thickener
Ethylene oxide polymer—Stabilizer or thickener—
Ferrous sulfate—Stabilizer or thickener—
FurcelleranEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agent——
GelatinThickening agent; Emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Gellan gum E418Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Glycerin E422—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Guar gum E412Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Gum arabic (Acacia gum) E414Thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Gum ghatti—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Gum tragacanth E413Thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Hydroxylated lecithinEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Hydroxypropyl cellulose E463Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate E1442—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E464Thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Hydroxypropyl starch E1440—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Isomalt (Hydrogenated isomaltulose) E953——Thickener
Karaya gum E416Thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Konjac flour E425——Thickener
Lactitol E966——Thickener
Lactylated mono- and diglyceridesEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Lactylic esters of fatty acidsEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Lecithin E322Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agent——
Low-acyl clarified gellan gum INS 418(ii)——Thickener
Magnesium chloride E511Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Magnesium dihydrogen phosphate INS 343(i)——Thickener
Magnesium hydrogen phosphate INS 343(ii)—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Magnesium phosphate INS 343(iii)—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Magnesium stearate INS 470(iii)——Thickener
Magnesium sulfate INS 518—Stabilizer or thickener—
Maltitol INS 965(i)——Thickener
Maltitol syrup E965——Thickener
Maltodextrin—Stabilizer or thickener—
Mannitol E421——Thickener
Metatartaric acid E353——Thickener
Methyl cellulose E461Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Methyl ethyl cellulose E465Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Microcrystalline cellulose (Cellulose gel) E460(i)Stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Microparticulated protein product—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids E471Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Monoammonium glutamate E624—Stabilizer or thickener—
Monobasic calcium phosphate E341—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
MonoglyceridesEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Monosodium L-glutamate E621—Stabilizer or thickener—
Monosodium phosphate derivatives of mono- and diglyceridesEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Monostarch phosphate E1410——Thickener
Oat gumEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Octenyl succinic acid (OSA) modified gum arabic E423Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Oxidized starch E1404—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Paprika—Stabilizer or thickener—
Pectins E440Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agent; Stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Pentapotassium triphosphate INS 451(ii)——Thickener
Phosphated distarch phosphate E1413—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Polydextrose E1200—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Polyethylene glycol E1521——Thickener
Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids E475Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Polyglycerol esters of interesterified ricinoleic acid E476Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate E432—Stabilizer or thickener—
Polyoxyethylene (8) stearate INS 430Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Polysorbate 60 E435Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Polysorbate 65 E436Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Polysorbate 80 E433Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Polyvinyl alcohol E1203——Thickener
Polyvinylpyrrolidone E1201—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Potassium acid tartrate E336—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Potassium alginate E402Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Potassium chloride E508Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate INS 340(i)—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Potassium hydroxide E525—Stabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Potassium polyphosphate E452——Thickener
Potassium stearate—Stabilizer or thickener—
Powdered cellulose E460——Thickener
Processed eucheuma seaweed (PES) E407a——Thickener
Propylene glycol E1520—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Propylene glycol alginate E405Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Propylene glycol mono fatty acid estersEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Propylene glycol mono- and diesters of fats and fatty acids—Stabilizer or thickener—
Protease from Bacillus licheniformis—Stabilizer or thickener—
Pullulan E1204——Thickener
Rapeseed oil—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Reduced lactose whey—Stabilizer or thickener—
Rennet (animal-derived) and chymosin preparation (fermentation-derived)—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Salts of carrageenanThickening agent; Emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing or thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Salts of furcelleranEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agent——
Sodium acid phosphate INS 339(i)Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Sodium acid pyrophosphate E450Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Sodium alginate E401Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Sodium aluminium phosphate, acidic E541——Thickener
Sodium aluminium phosphate, basic INS 541(ii)——Thickener
Sodium bicarbonate E500——Thickener
Sodium carbonate E500——Thickener
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, enzymatically hydrolysed (Cellulose gum, enzymatically hydrolyzed) E469——Thickener
Sodium carboxymethylcellulose E466Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Sodium caseinate—Stabilizer or thickener—
Sodium citrate INS 331(iii)Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Sodium fluoride—Stabilizer or thickener—
Sodium gluconate E576Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Sodium hexametaphosphateThickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Sodium hypophosphite—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Sodium lactate E325——Thickener
Sodium metaphosphate, insoluble—Stabilizer or thickener—
Sodium polyphosphate E452——Thickener
Sodium potassium hexametaphosphateThickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Sodium potassium tartrate E337Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Sodium pyrophosphate E450(iii)Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Sodium sesquicarbonate INS 500(iii)——Thickener
Sodium stearateEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Sodium stearoyl lactylate E481Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Sodium tartrate E335Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Sodium thiosulfate INS 539—Stabilizer or thickener—
Sodium tripolyphosphate E451—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Sorbitan monostearate E491Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Sorbitan trioleateEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Sorbitan tristearate E492Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Sorbitol E420—Stabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Sorbitol syrup INS 420(ii)——Thickener
Starch acetate E1420—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Starch sodium octenyl succinate E1450—Stabilizer or thickenerThickener
Starches, enzyme treated INS 1405——Thickener
Stearyl monoglyceridyl citrateEmulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickener—
Sucrose acetate isobutyrate E444—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Sucrose esters of fatty acids E473—Stabilizers and thickeners—
Sucrose Oligoesters, Type I and Type II INS 473a—Stabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Talc E553b——Thickener
Tamarind seed polysaccharide INS 437Thickening agent; Emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Tara gum E417Emulsifying, gelling, stabilizing or thickening agent; Thickening agent—Thickener
Tetrapotassium pyrophosphate E450(v)Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Tripotassium citrate INS 332(ii)Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent——
Tripotassium phosphate INS 340(iii)Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Trisodium diphosphate E450(ii)——Thickener
Trisodium phosphate INS 339(iii)Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agent—Thickener
Wheat gluten—Stabilizers and thickeners; Stabilizer or thickener—
Whey—Stabilizer or thickener—
Whey protein concentrate—Stabilizer or thickener—
White mineral oil—Stabilizer or thickener—
Xanthan gum E415Thickening agent; Emulsifying, stabilizing or thickening agentStabilizer or thickenerThickener
Xylitol E967——Thickener