This invention relates to a food casing based on cellulose hydrate that further includes nanoscale additives. The nanoparticles measure from 0.5 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension. The nanoparticles can have uniform distribution in the cellulose hydrate matrix, or be on the surface, or can have been concentrated in those regions of the casing that are in the vicinity of the surface. The invention moreover relates to a process for production of the food casing and to its use as synthetic sausage casing.