Is E466 halal?
E466 is generally considered halal. E466 — Carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose — is used in food as emulsifier, humectant, stabiliser, thickener. The assessment is straightforward here: E466 is produced from plant or mineral raw materials, a category Islamic dietary law accepts in food. That holds regardless of brand, so a product is not made doubtful by containing E466 alone.
Automated classification, not a religious ruling. No scholar or certification body has reviewed this assessment — always check the product's own halal certification.
What is E466?
Carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Thickening agent
Where does E466 come from?
E466 is obtained from plant, mineral or synthetic sources, so it raises no animal-derivation concern on its own.
Sourcing and scholarly views on E466
There is no significant scholarly disagreement over additives like E466. Substances of plant, mineral or synthetic origin are permissible across the schools of Islamic law, under the principle that foods are permitted unless specifically prohibited — the position the European Council for Fatwa and Research applies to plant-derived and synthetic E-numbers. The practical question scholars do raise is cross-contamination during manufacturing, which is a matter for product certification rather than for the additive itself.
- Islamweb fatwa 286777 — the European Council for Fatwa and Research's four-category ruling on E-additives (in Arabic)
- Islamweb fatwa 83073 — ingredients on foods with code numbers: purity and transformation principles
- Islamweb fatwa 219985 — E-numbered preservatives: verification before prohibition (in Arabic)
| Function | Emulsifier, Humectant, Stabiliser, Thickener |
|---|---|
| Is E466 vegetarian? | Suitable for vegetarians |
| Approved in the EU | Yes |
| Food-safety regulator | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food safety only — not a halal authority. |
E466 is identified internationally as Codex/INS 466.
EU approval: Yes.
Vegetarian status: Suitable for vegetarians.
Products containing E466
Products in our database that list E466 among their ingredients:
- Tortillas à base de farine de blé — Grafschafter, Lidl, Snack Food Poco Loco, el tequito (Halal)
- Delightful Bread — Sara Lee (Doubtful (mushbooh))
- High Quality Protein — Fairlife (Halal)
- Sorbet au citron — Deluxe, Gelatelli (Halal)
- High Protein Pudding vaníliaízű — Milbona, Milbona Lidl (Halal)
- High Protein Chocolate Flavour Pudding — LIDL (Halal)
- High Protein Caramel Pudding — Milbona (Halal)
- Robinsons Orange Squash — Robinsons (Halal)
- 12 White Rolls — Warburtons (Halal)
- Fruity Teacakes — Warburtons (Halal)
- White Rolls — Warburtons (Haram)
- Protein Thin Bagels — Warburtons (Haram)
How this verdict was reached
E466 is made from plant or mineral raw materials, with no animal input.
Maintained and reviewed by the Halal & Healthy team. About Halal & Healthy · Read the full methodology
What this is based on
The classification of E466 rests on public records rather than opinion: the Open Food Facts taxonomy supplies the origin signal and the technological function, the UK Food Standards Agency register confirms authorisation status, and Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 defines which raw materials it may legally be made from.
Frequently asked questions
Is E466 halal?
E466 is generally considered halal. E466 — Carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose — is used in food as emulsifier, humectant, stabiliser, thickener. The assessment is straightforward here: E466 is produced from plant or mineral raw materials, a category Islamic dietary law accepts in food. That holds regardless of brand, so a product is not made doubtful by containing E466 alone.
Where does E466 come from?
E466 is obtained from plant, mineral or synthetic sources, so it raises no animal-derivation concern on its own.
Do all scholars agree on E466?
There is no significant scholarly disagreement over additives like E466. Substances of plant, mineral or synthetic origin are permissible across the schools of Islamic law, under the principle that foods are permitted unless specifically prohibited — the position the European Council for Fatwa and Research applies to plant-derived and synthetic E-numbers. The practical question scholars do raise is cross-contamination during manufacturing, which is a matter for product certification rather than for the additive itself.
How does E466 relate to Codex/INS numbering and regional food-safety rules?
E466 is identified internationally as Codex/INS 466. EU approval: Yes. Vegetarian status: Suitable for vegetarians.
How this verdict was reached
E466 is made from plant or mineral raw materials, with no animal input.
Which additives are related to E466?
Same function — Emulsifier: E460, E452, E451, E450; Same E-number series — Thickeners, stabilisers and emulsifiers: E465, E467, E464, E468
Check any product in seconds
Scan a barcode with the free Halal & Healthy app to instantly see whether a product is halal — additives, ingredients and alternatives included.
