Production of edible protein containing substances

• US 4,041,189 A
• Filed: 09/18/1974
• Issued: 08/09/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ranks Hovis Mcdougall Limited
• Original Assignee: Ranks Hovis Mcdougall Limited
• Inventors: Longton, John, Cockram, Geoffrey Norman, Towersey, Peter John
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Raymond N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Penland, R. B.
• Application Number:
  US05/507,123
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 195/81, 195/28 N, 195/5, 260/112 R, 426/364, 426/60, 426/656
• US Class Current: 426/656
• CPC Class Codes: A23J 3/20 Proteins from microorganisms or unicellular algae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/929 Fusarium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/821 Separation of nucleic acid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/823 Lower fungi, e.g. mold

Abstract

A process for reducing the nucleic acid content in the production of an edible protein-containing substance which comprises maintaining a grown non-toxic microfungus of the class Fungi Imperfecti, preferably a strain of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, in a suspension at a pH between 4.7 and 7.0 and at a temperature between 55° and 72° C. for a time of at least 60 seconds.

Claims

1. A process for reducing the nucleic acid content in the production of an edible protein-containing substance which comprises maintaining cells of a grown non-toxic strain of Fusarium microfungus of the class Fungi Imperfecti in a suspension at a pH between 4.7 and 7.0 and at a temperature between 55°

and 72°

C for a time of at least 60 seconds and sufficient to reduce the nucleic acid content to below 4%.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strain of Fusarium is a strain of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, Fusarium oxysporum or Fusarium solani.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strain of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe is our strain of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe deposited with the Commonwealth Mycological Institute and assigned the number IMI 145425 (A.T.C.C. No. 20334).

4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein cells of the grown non-toxic microfungus are held at a pH of 8.5 at a selected isothermal temperature of 65°

C. for a duration of between 1/2 minute and 5 minutes before adjustment of the pH to between 4.7 and 7.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature of cells of the grown non-toxic microfungus in the suspension is raised rapidly to a given temperature within the range of 55°

and 72°

C. and substantially the same temperature is subsequently maintained for a period of 5 to 60 minutes whereby a highly proteinaceous material having a reduced level of RNA of below 4% is obtained.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grown non-toxic strain of Fusarium microfungus of the class Fungi Imperfecti is maintained in a suspension at a pH between 4.7 and 7.0 and at a temperature between 55 and 68°

C. for between 200 seconds and 30 minutes.

7. An edible protein-containing substance obtained by maintaining cells of a grown non-toxic strain of Fusarium microfungus of the class Fungi Imperfecti in a suspension at a pH between 4.7 and 7.0 and at a temperature between 55 and 72°

C for a time of at least 60 seconds and sufficient to reduce the nucleic acid content to below 4%.

8. An edible protein-containing substance as claimed in claim 7 wherein the strain of Fusarium is our strain of Fusarium graminearum Schwabe deposited with the Commonwealth Mycological Institute and assigned the number IMI 145425 (A.T.C.C. No. 20334).