Preparation of capsules

A process for encapsulating a water-immiscible phase in a protein coacervate, the process consisting of:

• forming a coacervate of the protein and a coacervating agent in an aqueous medium;
• thereafter, emulsifying the water-immiscible phase in the aqueous medium comprising the coacervate under conditions effective to cause deposition of the coacervate around the water-immiscible phase, thereby forming capsules of the water-immiscible phase surrounded by capsule walls of the coacervate;
• and
• thereafter treating the capsules formed with a cross-linking agent effective to cause cross-linking of the protein.