Is carboxyméthylcellulose de sodium e466 vegan?

Carboxyméthylcellulose de sodium e466 is the French term for sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, an additive commonly known as cellulose gum or simply E466. It is a water-soluble polymer derived from plant cellulose, typically sourced from wood pulp or cotton lint. Manufacturers produce it by treating purified plant cellulose with alkali and sodium chloroacetate. In food production, this ingredient acts as a thickener, stabilizer, texture modifier, and emulsifier. It appears frequently in products such as commercial baked goods, dairy alternatives, ice creams, sauces, dressings, and gluten-free breads.

This additive is classified as vegan because its primary raw material is botanical cellulose, and the chemical agents used to modify it are of mineral or synthetic origin. No animal tissues, animal derivatives, or animal-based processing aids are used at any stage of its production. As a result, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose does not have non-vegan variants and remains suitable for a vegan diet across all food applications.