The invention provides a structured aqueous surfactant system comprising: a) at least 0.1 wt % nonionic surfactant which is a polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactant having a hydrophilic head group with at least four oxyethylene units b) from 0.5 to 5 wt % dispersed modified cellulose biopolymer, wherein the modification consists of the cellulose having its C6 primary alcohols oxidized to carboxyl moieties (acid/COOH—) on 10 to 70% of the glucose units and substantially all the remainder of the C6 positions occupied by unmodified primary alcohols c) from 0 to 10 wt % non-surfactant electrolyte, and d) water.