By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

Alternative names: HPMC, hypromellose

Commercial source: combined plant (wood or cotton), mineral & synthetic (often referred to as “semisynthetic”)

Used in: baked goods, sauce mixes, salad dressings, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, personal care products

Used for: thickening, stabilizing, retaining moisture, emulsifying, binding

Description: Derived from wood or cotton and mineral-based chemicals such as calcium bicarbonate along with petrochemicals, there are different types of HPMC depending on the nature & quantity of the petrochemical parts used. HPMCs are becoming popular in foods as alternatives to gelatin or gluten because they are functionally similar to them. They are not digestible and so have no calories. HPMCs are also widely used in pharmaceuticals & supplements. They have many industrial applications including construction, paper & textiles.

Manufacturers:
Greg of JRS Pharma® sent us documents that confirmed the following about their HPMC products: “…manufactured from cellulose pulp originated from wood (e.g. Western Hemlock, spruce)…Manufacturing raw materials are methyl chloride, propylene oxide, caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, calcium bicarbonate and water…There is no contact with material of animal origin during the manufacturing and packaging process of VIVAPHARM® and VIVAPUR® HPMC. Greg added: “I was able to confirm that propylene oxide is derived from petrochemicals…”
http://www.jrspharma.com/pharma_en/products-services/coatings/vivapharm-hpmc/

Leo of Orison Chemical Limited® wrote in an email that their HPMC is derived from cotton.
http://www.orisonchem.com/hpmc.html

Further information:
https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jpps/index.php/jpps/article/viewFile/8870/7398

Classification: Vegan

For information about other ingredients, see:
https://www.vrg.org/ingredients/index.php

The contents of this posting, our website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.