What does ECD mean in UNCLASSIFIED

What is ECD?

Ethyl Cysteinate Dimer (ECD) is a white powder substance composed of two molecules of cystine - two derivatives of the amino acid cysteine - that have been bound together using ethylene glycol. It is soluble in ethanol but insoluble in water; its monomolecular form (cystine) is soluble in both water and ethanol. ECD has good emulsifying properties and does not interfere with oil or electrolyte levels within the product mixture during use, making it especially useful as an ingredient when creating foods like beverages, salads dressings or sauces.

Uses and Benefits

ECD is primarily used as a texture enhancer for food products including processed meats, sauces, soups, salad dressings, beverages and dairy products because of its ability to add creaminess without fat or cholesterol. Additionally it works as an anti-foaming agent which helps minimize bubbling during production processes involving homogenization or heating. In cosmetics such as shampoos or lotions it can help to stabilize foam volumes while providing shine to hair or skin when used correctly. Finally ECD can be found in some pharmaceuticals either directly added to pills/tablets or present as dusting agents over finished dosage forms mean for treating dry mouth conditions or nausea caused by chemotherapy medications.