Method and Apparatus for Vitamin D Enhancement in Mushrooms

Abstract

An apparatus and method for increasing Vitamin D content in mushrooms is disclosed. A mushroom slurry of comminuted or pulverized mushrooms or mushroom parts and liquid, such as water, is passed under a UV light source. The slurry may be conveyed to the UV light source by a vibrating conveyor. After UV light exposure, the treated slurry may be dried and ground into a powder, or the treated slurry may be filtered and the insoluble portion may be dried and ground into a powder. The irradiated mushroom powder has a mass fraction of Vitamin D2 of at least 2500 IU/gram of powder, and more preferably at least 20,000 IU/gram of powder. Irradiated mushroom powder may be incorporated into consumable food product for humans or animals, and/or may be incorporated into topical preparations for cosmetic use.

1 . An apparatus for increasing vitamin D content of mushrooms, comprising:
 a lamp configured to emit ultraviolet light, said lamp capable of emitting light with wavelengths in the range of about 200 to about 800 nanometers;   a homogenizer configured to pulverize or comminute mushrooms into particles having an average particle size in the range of about 200 microns or smaller to form a mushroom slurry of mushroom particles having an average particle sizes of about 200 microns or smaller suspended in liquid;   a vibrating conveyor configured to convey and vibrate the mushroom slurry of mushroom particles suspended in liquid for exposure to light emitted by the lamp;   a filter or other means to separate the irradiated mushroom slurry into a soluble fraction and an insoluble fraction; and   a grinder configured to grind the insoluble fraction into a powder having powder particle size that passes through a 70 mesh screen.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a light chamber housing the lamp; and   means for controlling temperature within the light chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrating conveyor is selected from the group consisting of: vibrating conveyor belt, shaker table, vibrating pan and vibrating chute. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a recycle line to redirect mushroom slurry onto the conveyor for another exposure to ultraviolet light emitted from the lamp.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter or other means to separate the irradiated slurry into a soluble fraction and an insoluble fraction is selected from the group consisting of: filter paper, filter bag, filter press, and centrifuge. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp is selected from the group consisting of: electric glow discharge lamps, medium pressure mercury vapor lamps, low pressure mercury vapor lamps, microwave powered fusion ultraviolet lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and low pressure amalgam lamps. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp emits pulses of light with wavelengths in the range of about 200 to about 800 nanometers. 
     
     
         8 . A method for increasing vitamin D content of mushrooms, comprising:
 pulverizing fresh mushrooms and/or fresh mushroom pieces to create a mushroom slurry of mushroom particles having a size in the range of about 500 microns or smaller that are suspended in a liquid, wherein the ratio of liquid to mushroom particles in the slurry is at least 3:1 (by weight); and   irradiating the mushroom slurry with ultraviolet light with wavelengths in the range of about 200 to about 800 nanometers.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein irradiating is with a source of ultraviolet light and the source of ultraviolet light is selected from the group consisting of: electric glow discharge lamps, medium pressure mercury vapor lamps, low pressure mercury vapor lamps, microwave powered fusion ultraviolet lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and low pressure amalgam lamps. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 conveying the mushroom slurry past the source of ultraviolet light with a conveyor selected from the group consisting of: vibrating conveyor, shaker table, vibrating pan and vibrating chute.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 re-conveying the mushroom slurry past the source of ultraviolet light.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 separating the mushroom slurry into soluble and insoluble fractions.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 drying the insoluble fraction; and   grinding the insoluble fraction to form a mushroom powder.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said mushroom powder has a mass fraction of Vitamin D2 of at least 40,000 IU/gram of mushroom powder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the mushroom powder has a moisture content of less than about 30% moisture by weight. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mushroom particles are made from one or more fresh mushrooms selected from the group consisting of: white button mushrooms, brown portobello mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms,  agaricus bisporus , and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A consumable food product comprising mushroom powder made by the method of  claim 13 , said powder having a vitamin D2 content of at least 40,000 IU/gram of powder. 
     
     
         18 . A consumable food product comprising mushroom powder made by the method of  claim 13 , said powder having a vitamin D2 content of at least 20,000 IU/gram of powder and an average particle size in the range of about 210 microns and smaller. 
     
     
         19 . A consumable food product comprising mushroom powder having a vitamin D2 content of at least 40,000 IU/gram. 
     
     
         20 . The consumable food product of  claim 19 , wherein said mushroom powder has an average particle size in the range of about 210 microns and smaller.