E-numbers / Thickeners & emulsifiers / E463
also: hydroxypropylcellulose · HPC
A modified plant fibre used to thicken, stabilise and coat foods, made by treating cellulose with propylene oxide.
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Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Wheat Flour, Sugar, Dextrose, Palm Oil, Acids (Citric Acid), Flavouring, Colour (E129), Antioxidants (Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol-Rich Extract), Glazing Agent (E463)
Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is a non-ionic cellulose ether produced by reacting cellulose, the structural fibre found in plant cell walls, with propylene oxide under alkaline conditions.
8
of the 43,325 UK supermarket foods we checked declare E463 in their ingredients
That is under 0.1%, counted by its code or its name.
Counted by NutraSafe from UK supermarket ingredient lists, September 2026. How we counted
Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is a non-ionic cellulose ether produced by reacting cellulose, the structural fibre found in plant cell walls, with propylene oxide under alkaline conditions. The reaction replaces some of the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose backbone with hydroxypropyl groups, making the molecule soluble in cold water and in some organic solvents. It is a white to off-white odourless powder.
HPC dissolves in cold water to form a viscous solution that thickens, gels lightly or stabilises emulsions depending on concentration. Unlike methyl cellulose, it does not gel on heating, which makes it useful where a cold-set texture is needed. At low concentrations it acts as a film former, coating tablet surfaces or food particles with a thin continuous layer. It also functions as a binder, holding powders together in compressed products.
Most commonly used in dietary supplement capsules and tablet coatings (where it also appears in pharmaceutical products), low-fat spreads, sauces, dressings, and some bakery fillings where it helps retain moisture and body. It appears on UK ingredient lists as Hydroxypropyl cellulose or E463.
Hydroxypropyl cellulose is not digested or absorbed to any meaningful degree in the human gut. It passes through largely intact, behaving like a dietary fibre. Very small amounts of propylene glycol side chains may be cleaved during digestion, but at typical food-use levels the quantities are negligible. EFSA's Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources (ANS) reviewed the cellulose ethers and found no systemic toxicological concern at levels used in food.
Cellulose ethers including HPC are not significantly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract; they are excreted largely unchanged and show no systemic toxicity in chronic feeding studies at doses well above food-use levels.
Regulatory bodies including the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and EFSA have not set a numerical acceptable daily intake for HPC because toxicological studies found no adverse effects at the highest doses tested. The absence of a numerical ADI in this context reflects a clean toxicological profile at relevant exposure levels, not a data gap.
JECFA evaluated hydroxypropyl cellulose and established an ADI of 'not specified', indicating that based on available data it presents no hazard to health at levels used in food.
No specific population group needs to avoid E463 based on current evidence. People with coeliac disease or wheat allergy are not at risk from HPC itself, as it is derived from cellulose rather than gluten-containing grains. Look for Hydroxypropyl cellulose or E463 on the ingredient list.
Hydroxypropyl cellulose is one of the more ordinary additives on a food label. It is a modified fibre that does not enter the bloodstream in meaningful amounts and has been in continuous regulatory use for decades without a safety signal emerging. The body of toxicological work behind it is extensive and consistent. There is no active scientific controversy around it at food-use levels.
No. Hydroxypropyl cellulose (E463) is permitted in the UK under the retained and assimilated EU Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives, and remains on the FSA approved-additives list.
It is derived from cellulose but chemically modified. Propylene oxide is reacted with cellulose fibres to attach hydroxypropyl groups, which makes it soluble in cold water. Unmodified cellulose (E460) does not dissolve in water.
It appears most often in dietary supplement tablets and capsules (as a coating or binder), low-fat spreads, emulsified sauces, and some bakery products. It is more common in pharmaceutical and supplement products than in everyday grocery foods.
Yes. Hydroxypropyl cellulose is entirely plant-derived, made from wood pulp or cotton linters, and contains no animal products.
Last reviewed: 20 June 2026
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