E468: Crosslinked Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose
Main role: binding and disintegration control
Also listed as: croscarmellose sodium, crosslinked cellulose gum
What is E468 (Crosslinked Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose)?
E468 is a crosslinked form of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Crosslinking changes how the material swells and behaves, distinguishing it from ordinary cellulose gum E466.
What does it do in food?
Its main role is binding and disintegration control. Texture ingredients help a recipe control thickness, binding, or separation. Their behavior depends on temperature, acidity, concentration, and other ingredients; two thickeners with similar names may not perform identically.
Food and formulation examples
- Food supplement tablets
- Tableted ingredient preparations
- Specialized solid formulations
These examples describe formulation roles, not a list of unrestricted legal uses. Availability and permitted applications differ by country and food category.
Label names and ingredient questions
Look for E468, E 468, or the ingredient name. Related names and label terms include croscarmellose sodium, crosslinked cellulose gum. A family code can cover more than one specified form; check the full declaration when the distinction matters.
A tablet ingredient that helps disintegration has a different job from a sauce thickener. Do not infer identical use or exposure from the shared cellulose name.
Is E468 safe?
EFSA’s 2018 cellulose assessment found no concern for the reported food uses and use levels evaluated. EFSA celluloses re-evaluation (2018).
A label identifies the ingredient but usually not its concentration. Calculating daily intake requires the amount in the food and the quantities eaten.
Authorization and conditions of use
The Great Britain food additive register lists E468 as Cross-linked sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, cross linked cellulose gum. This is an entry subject to its stated conditions, not unrestricted permission for every food. The record links to the applicable authorization terms. For an EU product, use the European Commission food additive database to check the relevant food category and limits. Other countries may use different names or rules.