Edible foodstuffs and bio reactor design

Abstract

Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biofilm-biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A food material comprising a liquid dispersion comprising filamentous fungal particles, wherein the ratio of the filamentous fungal particles to water ranges from about 1:2 to about 10:1. 
     
     
         32 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the filamentous fungal particles are nonviable. 
     
     
         33 . The food material of  claim 31  wherein the food material comprises all essential amino acids. 
     
     
         34 . The food material of  claim 31  wherein the filamentous fungal particles comprise at least about 46% protein. 
     
     
         35 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the food material is a milk analogue. 
     
     
         36 . A food product comprising the food material of  claim 31 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of soup, ice cream, yogurt, smoothie, fudge, mousse, and candy. 
     
     
         37 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the filamentous fungus is selected from the group consisting of  Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium venenatum  and  Fusarium  fujikuroi. 
     
     
         38 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the filamentous fungus is selected from the group consisting of  Agaricus bisporus  (crimini and white),  Boletus edulis  (porcinini),  Cantarellus cibarius  (chantrelle),  Calvatia gigantea  (giant puffball),  Cyclocybe aegerita  (velvet piopinni),  Ganoderma lucidum  (Reishi),  Grifola frondosa  (maitake),  Morchella  species (Morel),  Hypsizygus tessellatus  (clamshell),  Hypsizygus ulmarius  (elm oyster),  Laetiporus  species (chicken of the woods),  Lentinula edodes  (shiitake),  Pleurotus eryngii  (trumpet royale),  Pleurotus ostreatus  (pearl oyster and blue oyster),  Pholiota microspora  (forest nameko),  Sparassis crispa  (cauliflower), and  Tuber  species (truffles). 
     
     
         39 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the filamentous fungus is  Fusarium  strain MK7 (ATCC Accession Deposit No. PTA-10698). 
     
     
         40 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the filamentous fungal particles is the sole protein component. 
     
     
         41 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the food material is vegan. 
     
     
         42 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the ratio of the filamentous fungal particles to water is about 1:3. 
     
     
         43 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the ratio of the filamentous fungal particles to water is about 1:4. 
     
     
         44 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the ratio of the filamentous fungal particles to water is about 7:3. 
     
     
         45 . The food product of  claim 36 , wherein the food product has a sweet taste, comprising filamentous fungus that was grown in a growth medium comprising glycerol as a carbon source. 
     
     
         46 . The food product of  claim 45 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of mousse, caramel and fudge. 
     
     
         47 . The food product of  claim 36 , wherein the food product has a sour taste and comprises filamentous fungus that was grown in a growth medium comprising acid whey as a carbon source. 
     
     
         48 . The food product of  claim 47 , wherein the food product is yogurt. 
     
     
         49 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the liquid dispersion is prepared by a process comprising:
 a) growing a filamentous fungal biomat;   b) harvesting the filamentous fungal biomat;   c) inactivating the filamentous fungal biomat, and   d) blending the inactivated filamentous fungal biomat with water.   
     
     
         50 . The food material of  claim 31 , wherein the filamentous fungus is  Fusarium venenatum.