Biomass containing Thraustochytriales microflora

Abstract

A biomass containing the microflora of the order Thraustochytriales preferably, Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium, and mixtures thereof, is prepared by growing the microflora in a fermentation medium containing less than about 3 grams of chloride per liter of the cultural medium and a non-chloride containing sodium salts, in particular sodium sulfate. In a preferred embodiment, the process produces microflora having a cell aggregate size less than about 150 microns useful for the production of food products for use in aquaculture. Further disclosed is a food product which includes Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium, and mixtures thereof, and a component selected from flaxseed, rapeseed, soybean and avocado meal. Such a food product includes a balance of long chain and short chain omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids. The lipids containing these fatty acids can also be extracted and used in nutritional, pharmaceutical and industrial applications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.