Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose) Side Effects

Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose) is a filler / anti-caking agent with 0 high-severity side effects. Found in 51 products in our database. FDA GRAS.

4
Known Side Effects
51
Products Contain It
0
High Severity
4
Safer Alternatives

What Is Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose)?

Powdered cellulose is essentially wood pulp — an indigestible plant fiber used as a cheap filler and anti-caking agent. It's commonly found in shredded cheese, bread, and ice cream to reduce costs.

Also known as:
E460Microcrystalline celluloseWood pulpCellulose gumE466

Known Side Effects

Low Digestive bloating and gas
Moderate May reduce nutrient absorption
Low Laxative effect in large amounts
Low Replaces real food ingredients (quality reduction)

Regulatory Status

🇺🇸 FDA Status

FDA GRAS. Used as anti-caking agent in shredded cheese, fiber supplement in breads, and filler in many products.

🇪🇺 EU Status

Legal (E460, E466). No restrictions.

Scientific References

  1. Studies on cellulose as indigestible fiber affecting satiety signals
  2. Consumer reports on wood pulp in food products

Products Containing Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose) (51 found)

These products were found to contain cellulose (powdered cellulose) or its variants in our database of 26,000+ grocery products.

#ProductBrandScore
1Fit&active multigrain breadFit & Active5/100
2MAX PROTEIN NUTRITION SHAKE, MILK CHOCOLATEAbbott Laboratories Inc 7/100
3Premier ProteinPremier Protein7/100
4FRUIT & GRAIN CEREAL BARSWal-Mart Stores, Inc.20/100
5Keto Snack MixKirkland Signature23/100
6EGG, SAUSAGE, CHEESE & POTATO BURRITOS, EGG, SAUSAGE, CHEESE & POTATOEL MONTEREY24/100
7Calcium Magnesium ZincNature's Bounty24/100
8BIRTHDAY CAKE LIGHT CAKE MIXGeneral Mills, Inc.24/100
9Equate Complete MultivitaminEquate24/100
10WHOLE WHEAT WITH QUINOA + FLAX SIMPLY BETTER TORTILLAS, TORTILLASLa Tortilla Factory Inc24/100
11Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc Plus Vitamin D3 Dietary SupplementWalmart, Spring Valley24/100
12CREAMY MILK CHOCOLATE MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKE, CREAMY MILK CHOCOLATEWal-Mart Stores, Inc.24/100
13plant-based protein supplementEquate24/100
14Chicken Pot PieKirkland24/100
15RANCH COBB SALAD WITH CHICKEN & BACON, CHICKEN & BACONWal-Mart Stores, Inc.24/100

Safer Alternatives to Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose)

Potato starchCorn starchReal cheese without fillersWhole food fiber sources
📬

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the side effects of cellulose in food?
Cellulose (wood pulp) can cause digestive bloating and gas, may reduce nutrient absorption, and has a laxative effect in large amounts. It is used as a cheap filler to replace real food ingredients.
Is there wood pulp in food?
Yes — powdered cellulose is derived from wood pulp and is added to many foods including shredded cheese, bread, ice cream, and sauces as a filler and anti-caking agent.

⚕️ Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Side effect data is compiled from published scientific studies and regulatory assessments. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. Last updated: 2026-03-05.

Other Ingredient Side Effects

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📋 Cite This Data
APACheckIt AI. (2026). "Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI". Climaverse PBC. Retrieved from https://getcheck.it/side-effects/cellulose
MLA"Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI." CheckIt AI, Climaverse PBC, 2026-03-05. https://getcheck.it/side-effects/cellulose.
HTML Embed<a href="https://getcheck.it/side-effects/cellulose">Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI — CheckIt AI</a>
BibTeX@misc{checkit2026sideeffectscellulose, title = {Cellulose (Powdered Cellulose) Side Effects — Health Risks, FDA Status & Products | CheckIt AI}, author = {CheckIt AI}, year = {2026}, publisher = {Climaverse PBC}, url = {https://getcheck.it/side-effects/cellulose}, note = {Retrieved 2026-03-05} }