Vireo Advisors, LLC, in collaboration with Baylor University and the Alliance for Food Safety Acceptance of Fibrillated and Crystalline Celluloses (AFSAC), has published “Physical, chemical, and toxicological characterization of sulfated cellulose nanocrystals for food-related applications using in vivo and in vitro strategies”, available in the journal Toxicology Research.

The study demonstrates a proactive approach to safe and responsible commercialization of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) for food-related applications and includes in vivo and next generation in vitro testing strategies. As a part of this testing, a 90-day rodent dietary study was conducted as well as additional physical, chemical, and biological studies in vitro that follow European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidance to demonstrate the safe use of novel food ingredients.

The studies demonstrate a lack of toxicity via oral or simulated oral exposure at concentrations intended to be added to food. The study demonstrates through parallel control groups that sulfated CNC produced by InnoTech Alberta is as safe for consumption as conventional cellulose which has been added to food for decades.