Methylcellulose: authorised novel food in the EU

Conditions of use and maximum levels

Table 1, column "Conditions under which the novel food may be used", as written:

• Edible ices: 2 %
• Flavoured drinks: 2 %
• Flavoured or unflavoured fermented milk products: 2 %
• Cold desserts (dairy, fat, fruit, cereal, egg-based products): 2 %
• Fruit preparations (pulps, purees or compotes): 2 %
• Soups and broths: 2 %

Additional specific labelling requirements

The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Methylcellulose’

Other requirements

Methylcellulose is not to be used in foods specially prepared for young children

Specification (Table 2)

Table 2 of the Annex, row with the same name, as written:

Description/Definition:

Methyl cellulose is cellulose obtained directly from natural strains of fibrous plant material and partially etherified with methyl groups.

Chemical name: Methyl ether of cellulose

Chemical formula: The polymers contain substituted anhydroglucose units with the following general formula:

C6H7O2(OR1)(OR2)(OR3) where R1, R2, R3 each may be one of the following:

- H

- CH3 or

- CH2CH3

Molecular weight: Macromolecules: from about 20 000 (n about 100) up to about 380 000 g/mol (n about 2 000 )

Assay: Content not less than 25 % and not more than 33 % of methoxyl groups (-OCH3) and not more than 5 % of hydroxyethoxyl groups (-OCH2CH2OH)

Slightly hygroscopic white or slightly yellowish or greyish odourless and tasteless, granular or fibrous powder.

Solubility: Swelling in water, producing a clear to opalescent, viscous, colloidal solution. Insoluble in ethanol, ether and chloroform. Soluble in glacial acetic acid.

Purity:

Loss on drying: ≤ 10 % (105 °C, 3 hours)

Sulphated Ash: ≤ 1,5 % determined at 800 ± 25 °C

pH: ≥ 5,0 and ≤ 8,0 (1 % colloidal solution)

Heavy metals:

Arsenic: ≤ 3,0 mg/kg

Lead: ≤ 2,0 mg/kg

Mercury: ≤ 1,0 mg/kg

Cadmium: ≤ 1,0 mg/kg

Source and version

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, Annex, Union list of novel foods, Table 1. Consolidated text of 10 August 2026. The text above is copied from that document without change except that amendment markers are removed. It is not advice and it does not decide whether a particular product is covered.

• Consolidated text on EUR-Lex

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