Mucorales fungi for use in preparation of foodstuffs

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The fermentation process of the first aspect is suitably conducted in a fermenter vessel adapted for containing the aqueous liquid, such as a vat, and this vessel may be pressurized.
It may be also be adapted to allow the continuous or continual supply of the assimilable nitrogen and/or carbon sources.
Stage (a) and later stages are therefore preferably conducted aseptically.
Although the fermentation can be a continuous process, with regular harvesting or removal of the fungal cells (and accompanying protein), the process can be a batch process if desired, such as a repeat fed batch process (one or more additions of C and/or sources after fermentation has begun).
Thus the fermentation process can be stopped or halted, and the fungal cells removed from the vessel, before another or fresh fermentation is begun.
The vessel may additionally be adapted to perform, or allow to be conducted, aeration and/or mixing of the cells and liquid, such as agitation of the solution, which may be stirring, for example achieved using mechanical means.
The carbon and nitrogen sources may be provided in separate compositions.
This because the different sources may be subject to different sterilizing conditions, and furthermore it allows a variation in the relative amounts of carbon and nitrogen during fermentation.
The nitrogen and/or carbon sources can be supplied (or added) separately, or supplied simultaneously, or supplied as a combined preparation.
They may thus present in the same composition (if thought necessary) which is preferably a liquid.
The C and/or N sources can be added (to the fermenter vessel) either before the fungal cells are added (to the vessel), in other words prior to inoculation, or during fermentation.
If the supply is continual (or intermittent), it is preferred that for each instance of supply (e.
g.
"shots" or additions) the addition of both carbon and/or nitrogen sources is the same.
Preferred C:N (weight) ratios are at least 6:1, but may vary from 10:1 to 150:1, such as from 15:1 to 50:1, optimally from 25:1 to 40:1