A process for producing a nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel comprises obtaining bleached cellulose pulp fibers and providing an aqueous suspension thereof; and subjecting the cellulose pulp fibers in the aqueous suspension to at least 2 cycles of high pressure mechanical disintegration to obtain a nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel and thereby reducing the number of viable microorganisms present in the suspension by a factor of at least 102; wherein all steps of the process after obtaining the bleached cellulose pulp fibers are performed under conditions of ISO 8 of ISO 14644-1 cleanroom standards or stricter. A nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel, a system for producing the same and the use of a disintegrating apparatus are also disclosed.