Provided herein are compositions and processes for producing compositions from an algae to provide heme and a red or red-like color to edible compositions including ingredients and finished food products. Also provided are methods of growing heme-producing algae, methods of producing algae preparations therefrom and methods of making ingredients and food products with algae preparations. Also provided are compositions, including edible compositions that include heme and other nutrient components produced from algae.

Provided herein are compositions and processes for producing compositions from an algae to provide heme and a red or red-like color to edible compositions including ingredients and finished food products. Also provided are methods of growing heme-producing algae, methods of producing algae preparations therefrom and methods of making ingredients and food products with algae preparations. Also provided are compositions, including edible compositions that include heme and other nutrient components produced from algae.

The present invention relates to a novel violaxanthin-overproducing strain of Chlorella vulgaris and a method of producing violaxanthin therefrom. The inventors have developed a strain that produces violaxanthin at a significantly higher level than a wild-type strain by inducing a random chemical mutation in a Chlorella vulgaris strain to, and then as a result of analysis, confirmed that the strain produces violaxanthin up to 0.41% based on dry weight, which reaches the highest level that is possible to be produced in microalgae. Furthermore, as a method of effectively extracting a carotenoid pigment containing violaxanthin from the strain was established, since the strain and the developed pigment extraction method according to the present invention allow effective production and separation of violaxanthin, the strain is expected to increase commercial applications such as cosmetics, health functional foods and feed.

The present invention relates to a novel violaxanthin-overproducing strain of Chlorella vulgaris and a method of producing violaxanthin therefrom. The inventors have developed a strain that produces violaxanthin at a significantly higher level than a wild-type strain by inducing a random chemical mutation in a Chlorella vulgaris strain to, and then as a result of analysis, confirmed that the strain produces violaxanthin up to 0.41% based on dry weight, which reaches the highest level that is possible to be produced in microalgae. Furthermore, as a method of effectively extracting a carotenoid pigment containing violaxanthin from the strain was established, since the strain and the developed pigment extraction method according to the present invention allow effective production and separation of violaxanthin, the strain is expected to increase commercial applications such as cosmetics, health functional foods and feed.

The present invention relates to the use of a seaweed based food product that provides the color, texture and nutrients necessary to prepare a meat-like product that is capable of providing the consistency, texture and taste of a meat that is commonly consumed, including from animals such as a cow, a sheep, a pig, a chicken, a turkey, an ostrich and a fish. The seaweed-based food product can be derived from a red, brown or green seaweed that is capable of providing the taste, consistency and color, both when cooked and when raw, of a meat that is consumed.

An alga, particularly a diatom, comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of: a therapeutic agent (such as an immunogenic agent; antibody; anti-microbial agent; anti-parasitic agent and appetite promoter); an exogenous nutritional agent; and an enhanced level of an endogenous nutritional agent, used as a diet enhancer, a drug delivery device, a vaccine delivery device and/or an animal feed, or for use for use in therapy, a method of preparing an alga comprising: providing a dehydrated alga; and rehydrating the alga in the presence of a therapeutic agent or nutritional agent, and related kits.

An alga, particularly a diatom, comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of: a therapeutic agent (such as an immunogenic agent; antibody; anti-microbial agent; anti-parasitic agent and appetite promoter); an exogenous nutritional agent; and an enhanced level of an endogenous nutritional agent, used as a diet enhancer, a drug delivery device, a vaccine delivery device and/or an animal feed, or for use for use in therapy, a method of preparing an alga comprising: providing a dehydrated alga; and rehydrating the alga in the presence of a therapeutic agent or nutritional agent, and related kits.

The present invention relates to a method for processing fresh algae at ambient temperature by subjecting algae to an osmotic shock and treating the disrupted algae with an enzyme composition comprising cell wall degrading enzymes. This gentle process at ambient temperature allows for the isolation of algal protein which has good solubility, also in the presence of salt and good foaming, emulsifying and water binding properties. Another advantage is that this method of protein isolation allows for cascaded biorefinery, since protein isolation may be followed by a treatment of the remaining biomass with carbohydrate degrading enzymes to produce clean biogas in high yields and a mineral rich water stream in anaerobic digestion.

The present invention relates to a method for processing fresh algae at ambient temperature by subjecting algae to an osmotic shock and treating the disrupted algae with an enzyme composition comprising cell wall degrading enzymes. This gentle process at ambient temperature allows for the isolation of algal protein which has good solubility, also in the presence of salt and good foaming, emulsifying and water binding properties. Another advantage is that this method of protein isolation allows for cascaded biorefinery, since protein isolation may be followed by a treatment of the remaining biomass with carbohydrate degrading enzymes to produce clean biogas in high yields and a mineral rich water stream in anaerobic digestion.

The present invention relates to a human food comprising a basic food product and an ingredient, wherein the ingredient comprising one or more health-enhancing microorganism and a combination of at least one fermented seaweed material and at least one fermented plant material.