The world’s largest retail chain is being sued by a customer Marc Moschetta in a Manhattan federal court over cheese—woodsy cheese. Bloomberg reports Walmart Stores Inc. are being accused of fraud for selling parmesan cheese said to be “pure,” but that in fact contains wood pulp as a filler. Tests conducted in an Bloomberg News investigation show as much as 10 percent cellulose, a wood based anti-clumping agent is found in Walmart brand of “100% Grated Parmesan Cheese.” Ashlee Kieler with The Consumerist cites the lawsuit: Read more http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/...armesan-cheese-with-wood-pulp?detail=facebook
I don't see an issue with using cellulose in foods. It's the 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese claim that is questionable. Cellulose, no matter what is used to make it, is an organic sugar molecule which doesn't seem harmful in the least. You'd think the massive quantities of corn syrup, a similar extract, should be of far greater concern. Other food companies have similar lawsuits against them, including Taco Bell. http://www.thestreet.com/story/11012915/1/cellulose-wood-pulp-never-tasted-so-good.html Cellulose is virgin wood pulp that has been processed and manufactured to different lengths for functionality, though use of it and its variant forms (cellulose gum, powdered cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, etc.) is deemed safe for human consumption, according to the FDA, which regulates most food industry products. The government agency sets no limit on the amount of cellulose that can be used in food products meant for human consumption. The USDA, which regulates meats, has set a limit of 3.5% on the use of cellulose, since fiber in meat products cannot be recognized nutritionally. ... Cellulose adds fiber to the food, which is good for people who do not get the recommended daily intake of fiber in their diets, Inman said. It also extends the shelf life of processed foods. Plus, cellulose's water-absorbing properties can mimic fat, he said, allowing consumers to reduce their fat intake.
