In the human body, cellulose cannot be digested due to a lack of appropriate enzymes to break the beta acetal linkages. The human body does not have the digestive mechanism to break the monosaccharide bonds of cellulose.

Can humans digest cellulose?

Humans cannot digest cellulose, but it is important in the diet as fibre. Fibre assists your digestive system – keeping food moving through the gut and pushing waste out of the body.

What happens if you eat cellulose?

It's called cellulose, and you've eaten it before. A lot.

First the good: Eating cellulose won't kill you. There are no known harmful side effects from adding it to food, and it's completely legal.