3.2.5 Safety for user

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (E 464) is identified with the single Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number 9004-65-3, and the European Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (EINECS) number 232-674-9. It is manufactured reacting partially depolymerised cellulose with methyl groups and containing a small degree of hydroxypropyl substitution (Figure 11). Since cellulose is a high molecular weight linear polysaccharide of indeterminate mass and its degree of substitution will depend on the conditions of manufacture, a unique mass and structure cannot be specified. HPMC is in the form of white to off-white powder. A generalised structure of HPMC is shown in Figure 11

Choosing HPMC over other binders offers important advantages for specific consumer groups:

HPMC is also used by treating polymers with hydrochloric acid and then subjecting them to high temperatures. HPMC has been used for decades as an additive in pharmaceuticals and personal care products. HPMC is also used as an ingredient in many foods. Due to semi-synthetic manufacturing procedures, hypromellose is slightly more expensive to produce than gelatin because it is a vegetarian alternative but is a better choice for our bodies.

This makes a loaf more akin to gluten containing bread