- beauty
- cleaning
- food
- industrial
Methylcellulose (15 mpa.s)
CAS 39384-65-1 · 40/100 · High conf.
Also registered as 6 other CAS numbers
53568-34-6 · 71812-19-6 · 88402-84-0 · 99638-59-2 · 730985-58-7 · 9004-67-5
Concern score
40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence
Methylcellulose (15 mpa.s) in plain language
On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Methylcellulose”.
Also known as Methylcellulose · Methylcellulose (1500 mpa.s) · Methylcellulose (400 mpa.s) · Methyl cellulose · Methylcellulose (100 mpa.s) · Methylcellulose (25 mpa.s)
Show all 36 names
Methylcellulose (100 cps) · Methylcellulose (15 cps) · Methylcellulose (1500 cps) · Methylcellulose (25 cps) · Methylcellulose (400 cps) · Benecel mc A15C · Methocel a 25 · Methylcellulose 1500 · Methylcellulose 400 · Methylcellulose SM-25 (25 cps) · Anyaddy MC 40H · Benecel mc A15 · Benecel 143HR · Benecel A 15 · Benecel A 40M · Benecel M 011 · Benecel M 021 · Culminal MC 7000PF · Methocel A15 lv · Methocel A15 premium · Methocel A25 · Methocel A4C · Methocel A4CPCG · Metolose sm 100 · Metolose sm 15 · Metolose sm 1500 · Metolose sm 25 · Metolose sm 400 · methyl ether cellulose. · methylcellulosum
Used in cosmetics as a binder, an emulsion stabiliser and a light stabiliser.
- Binding
- Emulsion stabilising
- Light stabilizer
- Viscosity controlling
- Thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer
- Emulsifier
- Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.
Why it's flagged
EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 244 composition records across product categories including Batteries, Laboratory supplies, Home maintenance.
The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.
Regulation
No restrictions found. Methylcellulose (15 mpa.s) appears in these published regulatory listings.
- Inactive ingredient in US drugs
- Found in consumer products
- Beauty
- Cleaning
- Pharma
- Food
- Industrial
USFDAinactive ingredient database10 entries
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 360 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 5 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 384 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED; Maximum daily exposure: 68 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 319 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: POWDER, FOR SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 3 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 33 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 93 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 17 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 4 mgSource →
EUCosIngActiveCellulose, methyl ether
- Cellulose, methyl etherSource →
GLOBALJECFANOT SPECIFIEDJECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT SPECIFIED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT SPECIFIED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 244 composition records across product categories including Batteries, Laboratory supplies, Home maintenance. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Surface modifier, Viscosity modifier, Stabilizing agent.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 244 composition records across product categories including Batteries, Laboratory supplies, Home maintenance. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Surface modifier, Viscosity modifier, Stabilizing agent.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as polymer.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as polymer.Source →
Expert safety opinions
Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.
SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
Safety and efficacy of methyl cellulose for all animal species (EFSA FEEDAP)
2020 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
Re-evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives (EFSA ANS)
2018 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
JECFA evaluation lists ADI NOT SPECIFIED. Functional class: thickener, emulsifier, stabilizer.
Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
Evidence & sources
No graded research studies for Methylcellulose (15 mpa.s) yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.
Where this comes from
- Open →
CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
- Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated january 21, 2017
- Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
- Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
- Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
- Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
- Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Suitability
Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.
Food use
Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.
The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.
Fragrance avoidance
Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.
The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.
Where it has been recorded
How often EPA CPDat has listed Methylcellulose (15 mpa.s) in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.
Source records
244
Named organisations
6
BatteriesLaboratory suppliesHome maintenanceCleaning and safetyArts and crafts/office suppliesRaw materials
Typical roles
BindingEmulsion stabilisingLight stabilizerViscosity controllingThickener, emulsifier, stabilizerEmulsifier
Found in these products
Their ingredient lists include Methylcellulose (15 mpa.s); each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.
