Crumb

Crumb is a food ingredient made from dried and ground bread. It can be made from various types of bread, including white, whole wheat, or sourdough. The bread is typically toasted or baked to remove moisture before being processed into fine or coarse crumbs.

Crumb is often used as a coating for fried or baked foods, such as chicken, fish, and vegetables, to provide a crispy texture. It is also used as a binder or filler in products like meatballs, burgers, and crab cakes, helping to hold ingredients together and add bulk. Manufacturers use it to improve the texture and mouthfeel of various processed foods.

Crumb itself is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used as a food ingredient. It is primarily a source of carbohydrates. Regulatory bodies like JECFA and EFSA have not specifically evaluated 'crumb' as a distinct additive, but the components of bread (flour, water, yeast, salt) are standard food items. No significant health controversies are associated with the typical consumption of crumb.