**4. Function results of cellulosic structures in foods**

Cellulose and its derivatives have shown special roles and results in the industrial production of food and have solved many problems. In the food industry, for a research and development specialist, it is important to know about these roles and their definitions and to substitute different ingredients in a way that is effective. In order to understand the function of cellulose and its derivatives in food systems, its specific roles and applications need to first be defined in following terminology:

• Edible coating (EC): It is described as a thin layer of safe-to-eat material formed on a food. Edible coatings may additionally be described as defensive layers created around food surfaces by using solutions made from suitable for eating polymers like polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, or their combinations. This protective layer acts as a barrier between the food and exterior surroundings and *Perspective Chapter: Cellulose in Food Production – Principles and Innovations DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109204*


**Table 1.**

*The variety of polymer properties [33–35].*

as a result prolongs the ripening and spoilage process. Different kinds of industrial safe-to-eat coatings are broadly used to prevent moisture loss and to add shine to fruits and vegetables. Other business purposes of edible coating consist of coating nuts, fried foods, seafood, minimally processed foods, vegetables, and especially fruits [39].


*Perspective Chapter: Cellulose in Food Production – Principles and Innovations DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109204*


**Table 2** shows the main specific use of cellulose derivatives in the food and drug industry.


**Table 2.**

*The main applications of cellulose compounds.*

### **5. Food safety of cellulosic compounds**

Reevaluation of the food safety of cellulosic compounds has been carried out by international associations such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the EFSA**'**s scientific panels on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS). Food safety of cellulose derivatives as food additives including MCC (E 460(i)), PC (E 460(ii)), MC (E 461), EC (E 462), HPC (E 463), HPMC (E 464), ethyl MC (E 465), NaCMC (E 466), enzymatically hydrolyzed CMC (E 469), and cross-linked CMC (E 468) has been investigated ("E numbers" are special codes for components used as food additives and "E" is the abbreviation of Europe) [63]. The ideal everyday consumption as an acceptable daily intake (ADI) "not distinguished" for unmodified and modified celluloses established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF). Celluloses are not absorbed in the human body and are excreted intact through the feces after digestion of foods. Additionally, MCC, PC and modified celluloses are fermentable by means of intestinal flora in animals and humans. Specific toxicity facts are not available for all different celluloses, which were considered common among all types of cellulose due to their structural and biological similarities. In general, the acute toxicity of all cellulose types was low and there was no genotoxic concern. Short-term and sub**-**chronic dietary toxicity studies conducted with MCC, Mc, EC, HPC, HPMC, NaCMC, and enzymatically hydrolyzed CMC showed no specific treatment-related adverse symptoms and unfavorable side effects at levels up to 10%. In the performed studies about chronic toxicity with MCC, MC, HPC, HPMC, ethyl MC, and NaCMC, there is no side effect reported up to 9000 mg/kg body weight per day. The carcinogenicity effects were not observed for MCC and other cellulose derivatives. The reproductive problems and growth side effects were not indicated with doses of cellulose higher than 1000 mg/kg. The daily exposure to a variety of cellulosic compounds such as MCC, NaCMC, cross-linked CMC, and enzymatically hydrolyzed CMC for the general population was up to 506 mg/kg body weight. It

#### *Perspective Chapter: Cellulose in Food Production – Principles and Innovations DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109204*

was reported that there is no requirement for a numerical ADI and there would be no safety concern in consumption and use levels for all considered types of cellulose. Finally, the panel reported the daily indicative total exposure of cellulose derivatives around 660–900 milligrams per kilogram of human body weight. The safety of cellulose and cellulose derivatives has been extensively studied in animals and humans. These studies show that cellulose and cellulose derivatives pass through the gastrointestinal tract unchanged and can be rapidly detected in the feces of experimental animals and humans upon consumption. JECFA stated that viscosity is not recognized as a factor related to the safety of these additives. Many safety research reviewed and analyzed the use of cellulose compounds. All of these research aid the statement that there is no safety impact arising from a variation in viscosity. In general, if it is not definitely claimed that cellulose is nontoxic, it can at least be said that celluloses are of very low toxicity at the ranges of consumption and intake imperative to obtain the preferred impact and do now not pose a hazard or risk to health. Cellulose and its derivatives both are known to be safe in terms of environmental impacts [64, 65].
