The use of HPMC in animal nutrition is of no concern for consumer safety.

Cellulose is the most frequent polysaccharide in nature consisting of (some hundreds up to ten thousands) β-glycosidic linked glucose molecules. It is the main constituent of plant cell walls and vegetable fibre. It occurs mostly associated with hemicelluloses and lignin. It is therefore a common component of plant-based feed for all food producing and companion animals. However, these animals are not capable to digest cellulose enzymatically due to the lack of cellulases. The monomer element of cellulose, glucose, will not be released from cellulose. But gastrointestinal microbes can split cellulose, the main degradation products are short-chain fatty acids. In a simplified view, monogastric animals cannot digest cellulose, small amounts are microbially degraded in the large intestine. Minor amounts of cellulose may be absorbed as such by paracellular transport (passing through the intercellular space) or by transcytosis (transcellular transport of macromolecules captured in vesicles). On the other side, animals with large fermentation chambers in the intestine, such as ruminants, horses and rabbits, utilise large amounts of cellulose as energy source. In summary, cellulose is a natural part of feed and plays a physiological role in nutrition of animals (see Section 3.2.1).

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose as a feed additive for all animal species. Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is intended for use as a technological additive (functional group: stabiliser) in premixtures and feedingstuffs for all animal species with no minimum and maximum content. A proper identification and characterisation of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose as required for a feed additive is not available and the occurrence of potential toxic impurities cannot be assessed. The following conclusions apply only to hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose meeting the food additive specifications. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is considered safe for all animal species. The use of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose in animal nutrition is of no concern for consumer safety. In the absence of data, the FEEDAP Panel was not in the position to conclude on the safety of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose for the user. The use of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose as a feed additive is considered safe for the environment. The additive is considered to be efficacious in feedingstuffs for all animal species.