Thickener Ingredients

We've indexed 58 thickener ingredients. Of those, 55 confirmed vegan, 2 non-vegan, 1 that depend on the source. Use this hub to look up any thickener on a label and find vegan alternatives where needed.

What are thickener ingredients?

Thickeners give foods their texture and viscosity. Plant-based options like xanthan gum, agar, and pectin are widely vegan. Gelatin and certain animal-derived gums are not. Always verify the source on the label.

Thickener at a glance

Non-vegan thickener ingredients to avoid

Commonly found in

Ice creamSalad dressingsSaucesSoupsYogurtGluten-free bakingPuddingsToothpasteEye dropsShirataki noodlesSyrupsFruit pie fillings

All thickener ingredients (58)

Acetylated Distarch Phosphate

Vegan

A modified starch used for its clear gel properties.

Acid-Treated Starch

Vegan

A modified starch used as a thickener and gelling agent.

Agar-Agar

Vegan

A natural, jelly-like substance that forms a firm, translucent gel when boiled in water and cooled.

Alkaline-Treated Starch

Vegan

A modified starch used as a thickener.

Ammonium Alginate

Vegan

An ammonium salt of alginic acid used as a thickening agent.

Ammonium Alginate

Vegan

An ammonium salt of alginic acid used as a thickening and stabilizing agent.

Arrowroot Powder

Vegan

A starch extracted from the rootstock of tropical plants, used as a thickener.

Calcium Alginate

Vegan

A water-insoluble, gelatinous substance used as a thickener, gelling agent, and in advanced medical wound dressings.

Calcium Polyphosphate

Vegan

A mineral salt used as a firming agent and thickener.

Calcium Polyphosphates

Vegan

A chemical compound used as a firming agent and thickener.

Carbomer

Vegan

A series of polymers primarily used as thickening, dispersing, and suspending agents in cosmetics to create gel-like textures.

Carrageenan (E407)

Vegan

A hydrocolloid extracted from red edible seaweeds, used as a thickening, stabilizing, and gelling agent. It is often used in dairy and meat replacement products to improve texture.

Cassia Gum

Vegan

A food additive used as a thickener and gelling agent, often combined with carrageenan.

Cellulose Gum

Vegan

A common thickening agent and stabilizer that adds a creamy mouthfeel to low-fat foods.

Cornstarch

Vegan

A common culinary thickener derived from the endosperm of the corn kernel.

E901 (Beeswax)

Not Vegan

A glazing agent used to make candies and fruits shiny.

E920 (L-Cysteine)

Check the Label

A dough conditioner used in commercial bread baking.

Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Carboxymethyl Cellulose

Vegan

A modified cellulose used as a thickening agent.

Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Cellulose Gum

Vegan

A modified cellulose used as a thickening agent, produced using enzymes.

Enzyme-Treated Starch

Vegan

A modified starch used as a thickener.

Ethyl Hydroxyethyl Cellulose

Vegan

A modified cellulose used as a thickener and stabilizer.

Ethyl Methyl Cellulose

Vegan

A modified cellulose used as a foaming and whipping agent.

Gelatin

Not Vegan

A translucent, colorless, and flavorless food ingredient commonly used as a gelling agent in food, medications, and cosmetics.

Gellan Gum

Vegan

A water-soluble anionic polysaccharide used widely as a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer, especially in plant milks.

Guar Gum

Vegan

A natural thickening agent that is particularly effective at preventing ice crystals from forming in frozen foods.

Guar Gum

Vegan

A thickening agent made from guar beans, a type of legume.

Guar Gum (E412)

Vegan

A thickening agent used in ice creams, sauces, and gluten-free baking.

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Vegan

A gelling and thickening agent derived from cellulose, widely used in cosmetics, cleaning solutions, and personal lubricants.

Hydroxypropyl Cellulose

Vegan

A derivative of cellulose used as a thickening agent, binder, and emulsion stabilizer.

Hydroxypropyl Distarch Phosphate

Vegan

A modified starch used as a thickener in acidic foods.

Inulin

Vegan

A type of soluble prebiotic fiber found in many plants, commonly extracted from chicory root. It is used to add dietary fiber, replace fat or sugar, and improve the texture of processed foods.

Karaya Gum

Vegan

A natural gum exuded by trees of the genus Sterculia, used as a thickener and stabilizer.

Karaya Gum

Vegan

A natural plant gum exuded by trees of the genus Sterculia.

Konjac

Vegan

A tuberous root used as a thickening agent and a gelatin substitute.

Konjac (E425)

Vegan

A food ingredient derived from the root of the konjac plant, used to make flour and a jelly called konnyaku. It is a source of the soluble fiber glucomannan and is valued as a gelling agent and thickener.

Konjac Gum

Vegan

A water-soluble dietary fiber extracted from the root of the konjac plant, used as a powerful thickener.

Locust Bean Gum

Vegan

A thickening agent extracted from the seeds of the carob tree.

Locust Bean Gum (E410)

Vegan

A natural thickener and gelling agent extracted from the seeds of the carob tree. It is used to improve texture and prevent ice crystal formation in frozen desserts.

Maltodextrin

Vegan

A highly processed white powder used as a thickener, filler, or preservative.

Methylcellulose

Vegan

A chemical compound derived from cellulose that acts as a thickener and emulsifier. It has a unique property of turning into a gel when heated.

Oat Gum

Vegan

A thickener.

Oxidized Starch

Vegan

A modified starch used as a thickener and binder.

Pectin

Vegan

A naturally occurring complex carbohydrate used extensively to thicken jams, jellies, and marmalades.

Potassium Alginate

Vegan

A potassium salt of alginic acid used to thicken and gel foods, especially in low-sodium applications.

Potato Starch

Vegan

Starch extracted from potatoes, used to thicken soups and in gluten-free baking.

Processed Eucheuma Seaweed

Vegan

A type of carrageenan with a slightly different extraction process, used as a thickener.

Propylene Glycol Alginate

Vegan

An ester of alginic acid used to stabilize foams and thicken acidic liquids where regular alginates would fail.

Pullulan

Vegan

A natural polysaccharide produced from starch by the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, used to make edible films and vegan capsules.

Sodium Alginate

Vegan

A natural polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed, used as a thickener and gelling agent, especially in spherification (molecular gastronomy).

Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose

Vegan

A cellulose derivative with carboxymethyl groups, used as a thickener and to stabilize emulsions.

Soybean Hemicellulose

Vegan

An emulsifier and thickener.

Tapioca Starch

Vegan

A starch extracted from the storage roots of the cassava plant. It is widely used as a gluten-free thickening agent and is the primary ingredient in tapioca pearls for bubble tea.

Tara Gum

Vegan

A natural thickening agent and stabilizer obtained from the seeds of the Tara tree.

Tara Gum

Vegan

A natural thickening agent obtained from the seeds of the tara tree.

Tragacanth

Vegan

A natural gum obtained from the dried sap of Middle Eastern legumes.

Tragacanth

Vegan

A natural gum obtained from the dried sap of several species of Middle Eastern legumes of the genus Astragalus.

Xanthan Gum

Vegan

A powerful thickening and stabilizing agent that prevents ingredients from separating, highly popular in gluten-free baking.

Xanthan Gum (E415)

Vegan

A popular food additive that helps thicken and stabilize foods.

Frequently asked about thickener

Are all thickener ingredients vegan?

Not all. Of 58 thickener ingredients indexed, 55 are vegan, 2 are non-vegan, and 1 can go either way depending on the manufacturer.

Which thickener ingredients should vegans avoid?

The most common non-vegan thickener ingredients are E901 (Beeswax), Gelatin. See the list below for the full breakdown and vegan alternatives for each.

What are vegan alternatives to thickener ingredients?

Popular plant-based replacements include Carnauba wax (E903), Candelilla wax (E902), Agar-Agar, Pectin. Each non-vegan entry below lists specific alternatives suited to its function.

How do I spot thickener ingredients on a food label?

Look for the substance name or its E-number. Common thickener E-numbers include E1414, E1401, E406, E1402, E403. When in doubt, check the manufacturer's vegan certification or contact them directly.

Why are some thickener ingredients listed as "check label"?

1 thickener ingredient we've indexed can be derived from either plant or animal sources depending on the manufacturer. The vegan status only becomes clear when you check the brand or look for vegan certification.