Stabilizer composition of microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose, method for making, and uses

A process for a making a stabilizer composition comprising:

• a) blending a microcrystalline cellulose wetcake with a first carboxymethyl cellulose having a DS of 0.45-0.85 in an amount of 5% to 25% by weight of the total composition;
• b) extruding the product of step a);
• c) either
• i) blending and subsequently extruding a second carboxymethyl cellulose having a DS of 0.9-1.5 in an amount of 2% to 20% by weight of the total composition, into the product of step b);
• or
• ii) preparing a water dispersion comprising the microcrystalline cellulose:carboxymethylcellulose extrudate of step b) and a second carboxymethyl cellulose having a DS of 0.9-1.5, wherein the second carboxymethyl cellulose is present in an amount of 2% to 20% by weight of the total composition;
• and
• d) drying the product of step c);
• wherein the stabilizer composition has an initial viscosity of at least 750 cps, a set-up viscosity of at least 3200 cps, and a set-up gel strength G′ of at least 20 Pa when dispersed in water at 2.6% solids concentration.