Crucial alternatives to meet growing clean-label demand
As far as hydrocolloids go, you can’t get much “cleaner” than cellulose, which “is found in every plant on the planet,” says FMC’s Fong, especially cotton seeds and wood pulp. Turning it into a functional hydrocolloid is “just a matter of using technologies to harvest it and develop customized formulations for unique applications,” he says. But be mindful which cellulose gum you choose, as chemically modified forms like sodium carboxymethyl cellulose may not pass muster with clean-label watchdogs.
