Fiber aggregate, and method for producing fiber aggregate

Abstract

The present invention provides a fiber aggregate with improved mouthfeel. A fiber aggregate according to the present invention comprises a plurality of fibers. The fiber aggregate includes a non-animal protein, and an alginic acid component including a divalent metal salt of alginic acid. In the fiber aggregate in a water-saturated state, the water content R1 is 71 wt% or more and the content R2 of the alginic acid component is 2.0 wt% or more in terms of sodium alginate. In the fiber aggregate, the water content R1 is, for example, 88 wt% or less. The content R2 of the alginic acid component in terms of sodium alginate is, for example, 10 wt% or less.

Description

Fiber assembly and method for manufacturing fiber assembly

[0001] The present invention relates to a fiber assembly and a method for producing the fiber assembly.

[0002] In recent years, with the rise in the world population, it is expected that the demand for meat will increase. In order to meet the future increase in meat demand, it is not enough to simply increase the production efficiency of conventional protein sources; the development of new protein sources is essential. Examples of new protein sources include alternative foods such as plant meat produced from plants, meat produced from insects, and cultured meat produced by culturing microorganisms or cells themselves. These alternative foods are also attracting attention from the perspective of animal welfare. Patent Document 1 discloses a dried meat-like protein processed food as an example of an alternative food.

[0003] "Plant-based meat" is a processed food made from plant proteins such as soybeans, to which additives are added, and is also known as "fake meat." "Cultured meat" refers to meat made by culturing muscle cells using regenerative medicine technology, and is also known as "cultured meat" or "clean meat."

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-118655

[0005] In recent years, fiber aggregates containing non-animal proteins (fiber aggregates) have been studied as food substitutes. Fiber aggregates have the advantage of easily imitating chunks of meat of a certain size, such as steak, sashimi, and fillets. However, according to the inventors' studies, fiber aggregates have room for improvement in terms of texture.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fiber assembly with an improved texture.

[0007] It is envisioned that fiber assemblies used as food substitutes will be provided to consumers in a state containing a certain amount of water (preferably saturated with water). As a result of extensive research, the present inventors have newly discovered that the moisture content and alginic acid content of fiber assemblies saturated with water tend to correlate with the texture of the fiber assemblies. Based on this finding, the present inventors have furthered their research and have completed the present invention.

[0008] The present invention provides a fiber assembly comprising a plurality of fibers, the fiber assembly comprising a non-animal protein and alginic acids including a divalent metal salt of alginic acid, wherein the fiber assembly in a water-saturated state has a water content of 71 wt% or more, and the content of the alginic acids, converted to sodium alginate, is 2.0 wt% or more.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for producing a fiber assembly containing a plurality of fibers, wherein the fiber assembly contains alginates including a divalent metal salt of alginic acid, the method including a spinning step of ejecting a mixed liquid containing a non-animal protein, a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid, and an alkali compound into a coagulation liquid to form the fibers, the coagulation liquid containing a metal salt including a divalent metal ion, and the content of the monovalent metal salt of alginic acid in the mixed liquid is greater than 0.5 wt %.

[0010] According to the present invention, a fiber assembly with improved texture can be provided.

[0011] 1 is a diagram for explaining a method for manufacturing fibers contained in a fiber assembly. 2 is an image showing a fiber assembly of Example 1.

[0012] A fiber assembly according to a first aspect of the present invention is a fiber assembly containing a plurality of fibers, the fiber assembly having non-animal protein and alginic acids including a divalent metal salt of alginic acid, and in the fiber assembly saturated with water, the water content is 71 wt% or more, and the content of the alginic acids is 2.0 wt% or more in terms of sodium alginate.

[0013] In a second aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber aggregate according to the first aspect, the moisture content is 88 wt % or less, and the content of the alginic acids is 10 wt % or less, calculated as sodium alginate.

[0014] In a third aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber assembly according to the first or second aspect, the content of the non-animal protein in the saturated fiber assembly is 10 wt % to 27 wt %.

[0015] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber assembly according to any one of the first to third aspects, the non-animal protein comprises at least one protein selected from the group consisting of soy protein, pea protein, lentil protein, potato protein, seitan protein, amaranth protein, and quinoa protein.

[0016] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber assembly according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the alginic acids further include alginic acid.

[0017] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, for example, the fiber assembly according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is edible.

[0018] In a seventh aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber assembly according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the average fiber diameter of the plurality of fibers is 1 cm or less.

[0019] In an eighth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber assembly according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, at least two of the plurality of fibers are bonded to each other.

[0020] A ninth aspect of the present invention provides a method for producing a fiber aggregate comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fiber aggregate comprises alginic acids including a divalent metal salt of alginic acid, and the method includes a spinning step of ejecting a mixed liquid comprising a non-animal protein, a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid, and an alkali compound into a coagulation liquid to form the fibers, wherein the coagulation liquid comprises a metal salt including a divalent metal ion, and the content of the monovalent metal salt of alginic acid in the mixed liquid is greater than 0.5 wt %.

[0021] In a tenth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the production method according to the ninth aspect, the coagulation liquid further contains an acid compound.

[0022] In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, for example, the manufacturing method according to the ninth or tenth aspect further includes a washing step of washing the fibers taken out from the coagulation liquid.

[0023] In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the cleaning step of the production method according to the eleventh aspect, an alkaline aqueous solution or water is used as the cleaning liquid.

[0024] In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, for example, the manufacturing method according to any one of the ninth to twelfth aspects further includes a bonding step of bonding at least two of the plurality of fibers to each other.

[0025] In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the binding step of the manufacturing method according to the thirteenth aspect, at least two of the fibers are bound to each other in a state where a plurality of the fibers are contained in a molding die.

[0026] The present invention will be described in detail below, but the following description is not intended to limit the present invention to a specific embodiment.

[0027] <Embodiment of Fiber Assembly> The fiber assembly of this embodiment includes a plurality of fibers. The fiber assembly includes non-animal protein and alginic acids including a divalent metal salt of alginic acid. In a water-saturated fiber assembly, the water content R1 is 71 wt% or more, and the alginic acid content R2, calculated as sodium alginate, is 2.0 wt% or more. According to studies by the inventors, a fiber assembly in which the water-saturated water content R1 and the alginic acid content R2 are adjusted to fall within the above ranges tends to have improved texture (particularly hardness, juiciness, fibrous texture, etc.).

[0028] In this specification, "saturated with water" means that when a fiber assembly is immersed in water at 25° C. for 1 minute, the weight change rate of the fiber assembly is 0.1% or less, preferably 0.05% or less, and more preferably 0.01% or less. The weight change rate of the fiber assembly means the ratio (100×|W2-W1| / W1) of the difference between the weight W1 (g) of the fiber assembly before immersion in water and the weight W2 (g) of the fiber assembly after immersion in water.

[0029] (Fibers) As described above, the fiber assembly includes a plurality of fibers. The fiber assembly is preferably an assembly of a plurality of fibers. In the fiber assembly, the fibers themselves preferably include non-animal protein and alginic acids. Specifically, the fibers included in the fiber assembly are preferably saturated with water, have a water content r1 of 71 wt% or more, and have an alginic acid content r2 of 2.0 wt% or more, calculated as sodium alginate. The fiber assembly may include fibers other than the fibers satisfying the above composition, or may not include other fibers. The fiber assembly may include a plurality of types of fibers satisfying the above composition.

[0030] In another aspect, the present invention provides a fiber comprising a non-animal protein and an alginic acid compound containing a divalent metal salt of alginic acid, wherein the fiber in a water-saturated state has a water content r1 of 71 wt% or more, and a content r2 of the alginic acid compound, calculated as sodium alginate, of 2.0 wt% or more.

[0031] Furthermore, it is preferable that the fibers contained in the fiber assembly are saturated with water and have a non-animal protein content r3 of 10 wt % to 27 wt %. The preferred ranges of the moisture content r1, the contents r2, and r3, and the methods for measuring them, can be described later with reference to the moisture content R1, the contents R2, and R3.

[0032] The shape of the fibers is not particularly limited. The fibers are preferably long fibers, but may be short fibers. The fibers preferably do not have a branched structure.

[0033] The fiber diameter of the fibers is, for example, 1 cm or less, and may be 1 mm or less, 800 μm or less, 500 μm or less, 300 μm or less, 200 μm or less, or even 100 μm or less. Fibers with a small fiber diameter tend to facilitate the production of a fiber aggregate with a dense structure and facilitate the reproduction of the texture of chunks of meat. The lower limit of the fiber diameter of the fibers is, for example, 1 μm or more, and may be 5 μm or more, 10 μm or more, 30 μm or more, or even 50 μm or more. The fiber diameter of the fibers is preferably 50 μm to 200 μm. The fiber diameter can be determined by the following method. First, the fibers are observed using an optical microscope or a microscope. In the obtained microscopic image, the fiber diameter is measured using a scale such as a vernier caliper. The fiber diameter is measured at any number of measurement points (at least three points), and the average of the obtained measurements is considered to be the fiber diameter.

[0034] In the fiber assembly, the average fiber diameter of the multiple fibers is, for example, 1 cm or less, and may be 1 mm or less, 800 μm or less, 500 μm or less, 300 μm or less, 200 μm or less, or even 100 μm or less. The lower limit of the average fiber diameter is, for example, 1 μm or more, and may be 5 μm or more, 10 μm or more, 30 μm or more, or even 50 μm or more. The average fiber diameter is preferably 50 μm to 200 μm. The average fiber diameter refers to the average value of the diameters determined by the above-mentioned method for any number of fibers (at least five).

[0035] In a fiber assembly, it is preferable that at least two fibers among the plurality of fibers are bonded to each other. It is preferable that the fibers are bonded directly to each other, and it is preferable that a binder, as described below, is not present at the bonded portions between the fibers. In a fiber assembly, it is preferable that 10% or more of the plurality of fibers are bonded to adjacent fibers, more preferably 50% or more of the fibers are bonded to adjacent fibers, and particularly preferably that substantially all of the fibers are bonded to adjacent fibers. When the fibers in a fiber assembly are bonded to each other, not only is the shape of the fiber assembly easily maintained, but the texture of the fiber assembly tends to be further improved. Note that in a fiber assembly, the fibers do not have to be bonded to each other, and a binder may be filled between the fibers.

[0036] In the fiber assembly, the plurality of fibers are preferably oriented. The plurality of fibers may be oriented in a single direction or in two or more directions. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the orientation distribution of the plurality of fibers is, for example, 10° or more, and may be 20° or more, 30° or more, 40° or more, 50° or more, 60° or more, 70° or more, or even 80° or more. In particular, the plurality of fibers are preferably oriented in the same direction as the muscle fibers contained in the meat to be imitated.

[0037] The fiber assembly preferably contains fiber (fiber containing non-animal protein and alginic acids) as a main component. In this specification, "main component" means the component contained in the fiber assembly in the largest amount by weight. The fiber content in the fiber assembly is, for example, 60 wt% or more, and may be 80 wt% or more, 90 wt% or more, 95 wt% or more, or even 98 wt% or more. The fiber assembly may be composed essentially of fiber only.

[0038] (Non-animal protein) As described above, the fiber assembly contains non-animal protein. Non-animal protein means a protein other than animal protein derived from animals. The non-animal protein is a component suitable for adjusting the nutritional value of the fiber assembly.

[0039] The non-animal protein preferably includes a vegetable protein. Examples of the vegetable protein include soybean protein, pea protein, lentil protein, and other bean proteins; potato protein; seitan protein; amaranth protein; quinoa protein, and the like. The non-animal protein preferably includes at least one vegetable protein selected from the group consisting of soybean protein, pea protein, lentil protein, potato protein, seitan protein, amaranth protein, and quinoa protein, and particularly preferably includes soybean protein. Note that the non-animal protein is not limited to a vegetable protein. The non-animal protein may also include a protein derived from a fungus.

[0040] In a fiber assembly saturated with water, the non-animal protein content R3 is, for example, 5.0 wt% or more, and may be 8.0 wt% or more, 10 wt% or more, 13 wt% or more, 15 wt% or more, 18 wt% or more, or even 20 wt% or more. The non-animal protein content R3 is preferably higher than the alginic acid content R2. The non-animal protein content R3 may be, for example, 27 wt% or less, 25 wt% or less, or even 24 wt% or less. The non-animal protein content R3 is preferably 10 wt% to 27 wt%. The weight ratio of non-animal protein to the solid content of the fiber assembly is, for example, 40 wt% to 95 wt%.

[0041] As described below, the fibers contained in the fiber assembly of this embodiment can be produced by discharging a mixed solution containing a non-animal protein, a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid, and an alkali compound into a coagulation liquid. Because the solids of the mixed solution (particularly the non-animal protein and the monovalent metal salt of alginic acid) are not easily dissolved into the coagulation liquid, the formed fibers tend to contain the solids of the mixed solution intact. Therefore, in a fiber assembly composed essentially of this fiber, the non-animal protein content R3 can also be calculated as the product of the weight ratio C1 of the solids in the water-saturated fiber assembly and the weight ratio C2 of the non-animal protein to the solids in the mixed solution. According to the inventors' studies, the content R3 calculated using this method tends to closely match actual measurements.

[0042] (Alginic Acids) As described above, the fiber assembly contains alginic acids, which are components suitable for adjusting the elasticity of the fiber assembly.

[0043] As described above, the alginic acids include a divalent metal salt of alginic acid. The divalent metal salt of alginic acid is typically a salt of alginic acid and a divalent metal ion. In this specification, the "divalent metal salt of alginic acid" may be simply referred to as "alginate salt." It is preferable that the alginic acids further contain alginic acid in addition to the alginate salt. In this case, the texture of the fiber assembly tends to be further improved.

[0044] Alginic acid is a polysaccharide found in seaweed and the like, and has structural units (M blocks) derived from β-D-mannuronic acid and structural units (G blocks) derived from α-L-guluronic acid. In alginic acid, each structural unit is bonded via a 1,4-glycosidic bond. The content of G blocks in alginic acid is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 30 mol% or more, preferably 40 mol% or more, and more preferably 50 mol% or more. The upper limit of the G block content may be 90 mol% or 80 mol%. The G block content may be 31 mol% to 63 mol%.

[0045] For example, in alginate, at least one G block contained in alginic acid forms an ionic bond with a divalent metal ion. In other words, in alginate, alginic acid at least partially forms a salt with a divalent metal ion. Alginate typically has a crosslinked structure via a divalent metal ion. Examples of divalent metal ions include calcium ions, magnesium ions, barium ions, iron ions, zinc ions, copper ions, and aluminum ions, with calcium ions being preferred.

[0046] In a water-saturated fiber assembly, the alginic acid content R2, calculated as sodium alginate, is 2.0 wt% or more, and may be 2.3 wt% or more, 2.5 wt% or more, 2.8 wt% or more, 3.0 wt% or more, 3.3 wt% or more, 3.5 wt% or more, or even 3.8 wt% or more. The higher the alginic acid content R2, the more elastic the fiber assembly, which tends to improve the texture of the fiber assembly. If the alginic acid content R2 calculated as sodium alginate is significantly below 2.0 wt%, the fiber assembly tends to have a brittle texture. The upper limit of the alginic acid content R2 calculated as sodium alginate is, for example, 10 wt% or less, and may be 8.0 wt% or less, 5.0 wt% or less, or even 4.0 wt% or less. The alginic acid content R2 is preferably 2.0 wt % to 10 wt % in terms of sodium alginate. The weight ratio of alginic acid, converted into sodium alginate, to the solid content of the fiber assembly is, for example, 5 wt % to 40 wt %.

[0047] The alginic acid content R2 can be determined by the colorimetric method described in "Methods for Analyzing Food Additives in Foods," Food Chemistry Division, Environmental Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 2nd Edition, pp. 90-92, 2000. In the colorimetric method, alginic acids are converted to sodium alginate during preparation of the measurement sample, and therefore the alginic acid content R2 is determined as a value converted to sodium alginate.

[0048] As described above regarding the non-animal protein content R3, the fibers contained in the fiber assembly of this embodiment can be produced by discharging a mixed solution containing non-animal protein, a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid, and an alkali compound into a coagulation liquid. Because the solids of the mixed solution (particularly the non-animal protein and the monovalent metal salt of alginic acid) are not easily dissolved into the coagulation liquid, the formed fibers tend to contain the solids of the mixed solution as is. When fibers are produced using sodium alginate as the monovalent metal salt of alginic acid, the alginic acid content R2, converted to sodium alginate, in a fiber assembly composed essentially of these fibers can be calculated as the product of the weight ratio C1 of the solids in the water-saturated fiber assembly and the weight ratio C3 of sodium alginate to the solids in the mixed solution. According to the inventors' studies, the content R2 calculated using this method tends to closely match actual measurements.

[0049] (Water) In a fiber assembly saturated with water, the moisture content R1 is 71 wt% or more, as described above, and may be 72 wt% or more, or even 73 wt% or more. The higher the moisture content R1, the more juicy and moist the fiber assembly becomes, which tends to improve the texture of the fiber assembly. The upper limit of the moisture content R1 is, for example, 88 wt% or less, and may be 85 wt% or less, 83 wt% or less, or even 80 wt% or less. The moisture content R1 is preferably 71 wt% to 88 wt%, and more preferably 71 wt% to 80 wt%. The weight ratio of the solids content in a fiber assembly saturated with water is, for example, 12 wt% to 29 wt%, and preferably 20 wt% to 29 wt%.

[0050] The moisture content R1 can be determined by the following method. First, a fiber assembly saturated with water is prepared, and its weight W3 (g) is measured. The weight W3 is preferably 1 g. Next, the fiber assembly is placed in a heating moisture meter and subjected to a heat treatment at 105°C. This heat treatment volatilizes the water contained in the fiber assembly. The heat treatment is continued until the rate of water loss in the fiber assembly falls below 0.10 wt% / min. Based on the weight W3 and the weight W4 (g) of the fiber assembly after the heat treatment, the moisture content R1 can be calculated using the following formula: Moisture content R1 (wt%) = 100 x (weight W3 - weight W4) / weight W3

[0051] The fiber aggregate of this embodiment may have a moisture content R1 of 71 wt% or more when saturated with water, but may have a moisture content of less than 71 wt% when not saturated with water. In particular, during storage or transportation, a low moisture content in the fiber aggregate is preferable, and the moisture content may be, for example, 50 wt% or less, 30 wt% or less, 10 wt% or less, 5 wt% or less, 1 wt% or less, or even 0.1 wt% or less. Fiber aggregates with low moisture content are also suitable for use as scaffolding materials for producing cultured meat. On the other hand, the fiber aggregate provided to consumers preferably has a moisture content of 60 wt% or more (particularly 65 wt% or more or 71 wt% or more).

[0052] (Other Components) The fiber assembly of this embodiment may or may not further contain other components in addition to non-animal proteins, alginic acids, and water. Examples of other components include animal proteins, lipids, alkaline compounds, coagulants, acid compounds, softeners, lubricants, compound C that promotes bonding of fibers, binders, fragrances, seasonings, etc. In the fiber assembly, the fibers themselves may contain the above-mentioned other components.

[0053] Examples of lipids include beeswax, phospholipids, and fatty acids. The alkaline compounds, coagulants, and acid compounds are derived from the materials used to produce the fibers, and will be described in detail below. Examples of lubricants include glycerin. Lubricants are suitable for preventing the fibers from coming into contact with free rollers, guides, and the like and rubbing off when the fibers are wound, for example.

[0054] Examples of compound C include enzymes that cross-link proteins (protein cross-linking enzymes), such as transglutaminase. In some cases, protease enzymes such as papain can also be used as compound C. However, the fiber assembly does not necessarily need to contain a protease.

[0055] A binder is a component that fixes fibers by filling the spaces between the fibers. The binder tends to help the fiber assembly maintain its shape. Examples of binders include methylcellulose and alginic acids. However, the fiber assembly does not necessarily need to contain a binder.

[0056] In a fiber assembly saturated with water, the content of other components may be, for example, 25 wt% or less, 20 wt% or less, 15 wt% or less, 10 wt% or less, 5 wt% or less, 1 wt% or less, or even 0.1 wt% or less.

[0057] The fiber assembly of this embodiment is typically edible. In this specification, "edible fiber assembly" means that the fiber assembly is composed only of substances approved as foods or food additives by the laws and regulations of each country. It is preferable that the fiber assembly is substantially free of components other than foods or food additives, such as plasticizers (softeners) and surfactants.

[0058] (Shape of fiber aggregate) The shape of the fiber aggregate is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a sheet, a cube, and a disk. The fiber aggregate preferably has a shape similar to that of the meat to be imitated. Examples of meat to be imitated include crustaceans, shellfish, fish, beef, pork, and poultry (particularly chicken). The fiber aggregate preferably has a shape similar to that of chicken meat (particularly chicken breast meat).

[0059] (Method for manufacturing a fiber aggregate) The method for manufacturing a fiber aggregate of this embodiment includes a spinning process in which a mixed liquid containing a non-animal protein, a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid, and an alkali compound is ejected into a coagulation liquid to form fibers. A fiber aggregate can be produced by assembling multiple fibers obtained by the spinning process. The coagulation liquid contains a metal salt containing a divalent metal ion. The content of the monovalent metal salt of alginic acid in the mixed liquid is greater than 0.5 wt %. Note that the monovalent metal salt of alginic acid is typically a salt of alginic acid and a monovalent metal ion. In this specification, the "monovalent metal salt of alginic acid" may also be simply referred to as "alginate."

[0060] The spinning process can be carried out, for example, using a spinning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1. The spinning apparatus 100 includes a discharge section 10 that discharges the mixed liquid, a coagulation section 20 that contains a coagulation liquid 21 that coagulates the material discharged from the discharge section 10, and a winding section 30 that winds up the fiber 6 formed in the coagulation section 20. The discharge section 10, the coagulation section 20, and the winding section 30 are arranged, for example, in this order along the direction in which the fiber 6 is wound by the winding section 30 (direction X).

[0061] The discharge unit 10 has a storage unit 11 that stores the mixed liquid and a nozzle 13 that discharges the mixed liquid. A commercially available discharge device equipped with a gear pump or syringe pump can be used as the discharge unit 10. As described above, the mixed liquid stored in the storage unit 11 contains a non-animal protein, an alginate, and an alkaline compound.

[0062] Examples of non-animal proteins contained in the above-mentioned mixture include those mentioned above for fiber. Non-animal proteins usually have a unique three-dimensional structure based on their amino acid sequence. However, in the above-mentioned mixture, the presence of alkaline compounds tends to destroy the three-dimensional structure of the non-animal proteins, causing the non-animal proteins to assume a string-like structure. In this specification, the destruction of the three-dimensional structure of non-animal proteins by alkaline compounds is sometimes referred to as "unfolding."

[0063] According to the inventors' investigations, by mixing non-animal protein with an alkaline compound and carrying out the spinning process while the non-animal protein is unfolded, it is easy to adjust the alginic acid content R2 (equivalent to sodium alginate) in the water-saturated fiber aggregate (particularly the fibers contained in the fiber aggregate) to 2.0 wt% or more, while also adjusting the water content R1 to 71 wt% or more.

[0064] Furthermore, by unfolding the non-animal protein, the solubility of the non-animal protein in the mixture tends to improve, making it easier to form fibers. In other words, the spinnability of the mixture tends to improve. When unfolded non-animal protein is used, the strength of the resulting fibers also tends to improve.

[0065] The content of non-animal protein in the mixed liquid is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 1.0 wt % to 30 wt %.

[0066] In the alginate (monovalent metal salt of alginic acid) contained in the mixed solution, examples of the monovalent metal ion include alkali metal ions such as sodium ions and potassium ions, with sodium ions being preferred. In the mixed solution, the alginate typically does not substantially contain divalent metal ions.

[0067] As described above, the alginate content in the mixed solution may be greater than 0.5 wt %, and may be 0.8 wt % or more, 0.9 wt % or more, 1.0 wt % or more, or even 1.1 wt % or more. The upper limit of the alginate content is not particularly limited and may be, for example, 5.0 wt % or less. Note that if the alginate content is significantly less than 0.5 wt %, spinning of the fibers 6 tends to be difficult.

[0068] As described above, the alkaline compound is a component for unfolding non-animal proteins in the mixed solution. The alkaline compound is preferably edible. Examples of the alkaline compound include sodium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and sodium hydroxide is preferred. The content of the alkaline compound in the mixed solution is, for example, 10 wtppm to 5000 wtppm.

[0069] The mixed solution is preferably adjusted to a pH of 8 or higher with an alkaline compound. If the mixed solution has a pH of 8 or higher, non-animal proteins tend to be unfolded in the mixed solution. The pH of the mixed solution is preferably 8 to 13, and more preferably 9 to 11.

[0070] The mixed liquid preferably further contains water. The content of water in the mixed liquid is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 50 wt % to 98.5 wt %.

[0071] The mixture may further contain other components (softener, lubricant, etc.) that are described above as being contained in the fiber aggregate.

[0072] In the discharge unit 10, the mixed liquid is sent from the storage unit 11 to the nozzle 13 and discharged from the nozzle 13 to the outside of the discharge unit 10 through the nozzle outlet. The discharge rate of the mixed liquid from the nozzle 13 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 0.1 to 10,000 mL / min. The size of the nozzle outlet can be adjusted appropriately depending on the fiber diameter of the target fiber 6. The nozzle 13 may have multiple discharge outlets. In this case, multiple fibers 6 can be produced at once by solidifying the material discharged from the nozzle 13. The number of discharge outlets in the nozzle 13 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 1 to 20,000. Using a nozzle 13 with a large number of discharge outlets and setting a high discharge rate of the mixed liquid allows the fibers 6 to be produced efficiently, improving productivity. The nozzle 13 is, for example, immersed in the coagulation liquid 21 contained in the coagulation unit 20.

[0073] The coagulation liquid 21 contained in the coagulation unit 20 can coagulate the discharged material (liquid mixture) by coming into contact with the discharged material from the nozzle 13. The fiber 6 is formed by coagulating the discharged material from the nozzle 13. The coagulation liquid 21 is typically an aqueous solution containing a coagulant.

[0074] The coagulation liquid 21 contains a metal salt containing a divalent metal ion as a coagulant. Examples of such metal salts include chlorides such as calcium chloride and carbonates such as calcium carbonate. The metal salt containing a divalent metal ion generates the divalent metal ion, for example, by dissolving in the coagulation liquid 21. The divalent metal ion can form an ionic bond with the G-block of the alginate. Specifically, the metal ions (monovalent metal ions) contained in the alginate are exchanged for divalent metal ions in the mixed solution, thereby crosslinking multiple alginic acid molecules via the divalent metal ions. This crosslinking reaction promotes gelation of the material discharged from the nozzle 13, resulting in the production of the fiber 6. The content of the coagulant in the coagulation liquid 21 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, 0.1 wt% to 10 wt%.

[0075] The coagulation liquid 21 preferably further contains an acid compound in addition to the coagulant (metal salt). When the coagulation liquid 21 contains an acid compound, the three-dimensional structure of the unfolded non-animal protein can be restored by contacting the material discharged from the nozzle 13 with the coagulation liquid 21. In this specification, the restoration of the three-dimensional structure of the unfolded non-animal protein may be referred to as "refolding."

[0076] The acid compound is preferably edible. Examples of the acid compound include, but are not limited to, citric acid and acetic acid, with citric acid being preferred. The content of the acid compound in the coagulation liquid 21 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 0.1 wt % to 10 wt %.

[0077] The coagulation liquid 21 may contain a mixture of an acid compound and an alkaline compound. The alkaline compound contained in the coagulation liquid 21 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include sodium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate.

[0078] The pH of the coagulation liquid 21 is preferably adjusted to 6 or less with an acid compound or a mixture of an acid compound and an alkaline compound. The pH of the coagulation liquid 21 is particularly preferably 1 to 6. Within the above pH range, non-animal proteins can be refolded.

[0079] The fiber 6 formed in the coagulation section 20 is sent to the winding section 30. The spinning apparatus 100 may further include free rollers 40 and 41 for sending the fiber 6 to the winding section 30. The free roller 40 is, for example, disposed in the coagulation liquid 21 and is approximately 10 cm to 10 m away from the nozzle 13. The fiber 6 passes through the free roller 40 and is then sent to the outside of the coagulation section 20. The fiber 6 sent to the outside of the coagulation section 20 passes through the free roller 41 and is then sent to the winding section 30. Note that the spinning apparatus 100 does not necessarily have to include the free rollers 40 and 41.

[0080] The winding unit 30 has a bobbin 31 that winds the fiber 6 formed in the coagulation unit 20, and a guide 35 for traversing the fiber 6 when winding the fiber 6. The rotation speed of the bobbin 31 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 0.1 to 500 rps. The winding speed of the fiber 6 by the bobbin 31 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 0.1 to 500 m / min. The number of traverses per second is not particularly limited and is, for example, 0.1 to 10. The traverse speed is not particularly limited and is, for example, 10 to 500 mm / sec. The traverse speed refers to the average speed of the reciprocating motion of the guide 35 in a direction perpendicular to the direction X. The winding unit 30 does not necessarily have to have the guide 35.

[0081] The manufacturing method of this embodiment preferably further includes a washing step of washing the fibers 6 removed from the coagulation liquid 21. The washing step makes it possible to remove excess coagulant, acid compounds, and the like adhering to the surfaces of the fibers 6. The temperature of the washing liquid used in the washing step is, for example, room temperature (25°C). The time for which the fibers 6 are in contact with the washing liquid is not particularly limited and is, for example, 1 second to 1 hour.

[0082] In the cleaning step, it is preferable to use an alkaline aqueous solution or water as the cleaning liquid. The alkaline aqueous solution is, for example, an aqueous solution containing an alkaline compound, and the alkaline compound may be any of those mentioned above. The content of the alkaline compound in the alkaline aqueous solution is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 0.05 wt % to 10 wt %. The alkaline aqueous solution is preferably adjusted to a pH of 8 or higher, and particularly preferably a pH of 8 to 11.

[0083] The washing step may be performed before the fiber 6 is wound onto the bobbin 31, or after the fiber 6 is wound onto the bobbin 31. As an example, the washing step may be performed using a washing tank (not shown) disposed between the coagulation unit 20 and the winding unit 30 and containing a washing liquid. The washing tank allows the fiber 6 sent from the coagulation unit 20 to be brought into contact with the washing liquid, thereby washing the fiber 6. The washed fiber 6 is sent from the washing tank to the winding unit 30 and wound onto the bobbin 31. As another example, the washing step may be performed by pouring the washing liquid onto a wound body produced by winding the fiber 6 onto the bobbin 31, or by immersing the wound body together with the bobbin 31 in the washing liquid. Furthermore, the washing step may be performed by bringing the fiber 6 removed from the bobbin 31 into contact with the washing liquid.

[0084] The manufacturing method of this embodiment may further include a drying step of drying the fibers 6. The drying step allows the moisture content of the fibers 6 to be adjusted to a desired value. The conditions for the drying step are not particularly limited, and the fibers 6 may be dried, for example, by leaving them at room temperature (25°C). The drying step may involve freeze-drying or heat drying. When heat drying is performed, the heating temperature of the fibers 6 is, for example, 50°C to 120°C. Before heat drying, the fibers 6 may be immersed in alcohol such as ethanol to replace the water contained in the fibers 6 with the alcohol.

[0085] The manufacturing method of this embodiment preferably further includes a bonding step of bonding at least two of the plurality of fibers 6 to each other. Bonding of the fibers 6 to each other can be performed, for example, by the following method. First, the plurality of fibers 6 are placed in a molding die. The molding die has a housing portion shaped similarly to the meat to be imitated, for example. Next, compound C, which promotes bonding of the fibers 6 to each other, is added to the molding die and brought into contact with the plurality of fibers 6. A dispersion of compound C in water may be added to the molding die. Contact with compound C promotes bonding of the fibers 6 to each other. For example, if compound C is a protein cross-linking enzyme, non-animal proteins present near the surface of a fiber 6 are cross-linked with non-animal proteins present near the surface of another fiber 6. When an enzyme is used as compound C, it is preferable to adjust the temperature inside the molding die to near the optimal temperature for the enzyme (e.g., 50°C).

[0086] In the bonding step, the inside of the molding die may be pressurized. In the bonding step, the inside of the molding die may be pressurized, for example, by 0.01 kPa to 100 kPa from the atmospheric pressure of the surrounding environment. The pressurization time is, for example, 1 second to 10 hours. Under pressure, the fibers 6 are more likely to come into contact with each other, which tends to promote bonding between the fibers 6. Furthermore, performing the bonding step under pressure also tends to reduce voids in the fiber aggregate.

[0087] The fibers 6 may be bonded together without using a molding die. For example, the fibers 6 may be bonded together by kneading a plurality of fibers 6 with the compound C (or a dispersion containing the compound C).

[0088] The manufacturing method of this embodiment does not necessarily include the binding step. As an example, the manufacturing method of this embodiment may include a mixing step of mixing the plurality of fibers 6 with a binder instead of the binding step. In the mixing step, the binder may be any of those described above.

[0089] The manufacturing method of this embodiment may further include a heating step of heating the fiber assembly obtained in the binding step (or mixing step). The heating step may cause non-animal proteins contained in the fibers 6 to associate, further improving the texture of the fiber assembly. The heating step may also serve as a sterilization treatment for the fiber assembly. The conditions for the heating step are not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a temperature of 50°C to 120°C and a time of 1 minute to 1 hour.

[0090] (Uses of Fiber Assembly) The fiber assembly of this embodiment tends to have an improved texture. The fiber assembly is particularly suitable for use as a substitute food for meat from crustaceans, shellfish, fish, beef, pork, poultry (particularly chicken), and the like. In some cases, the fiber assembly can also be used as a scaffold for cultured meat. That is, cultured meat can be produced by attaching cells from crustaceans, shellfish, fish, beef, pork, poultry (particularly chicken), and the like to the fiber assembly and culturing the cells. When the fiber assembly is used as a scaffold for cultured meat, an adhesion improver that improves the adhesiveness of the cells may be added to the fiber assembly. The fiber assembly can also be used for uses other than those described above, such as chemical products and pharmaceuticals.

[0091] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0092] Example 1 First, distilled water was added to a disposable cup and stirred using a homogenizer (T18, manufactured by IKA Corporation). The amount of distilled water added was adjusted so that the total weight of the ingredients added to the cup was 100 parts by weight. Next, 7.5 parts by weight of soy protein (Fujipro 748, manufactured by Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.) and 1.1 parts by weight of powdered sodium alginate (Kimica Algin I-1G, manufactured by Kimica Co., Ltd.) were added to the cup in small amounts in this order and dissolved in water to prevent lumps from forming. Furthermore, 3 parts by weight of a 5 wt% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added per 100 parts by weight of the total weight of the ingredients added to the cup. This mixture was stirred and degassed using a mixer (ARV-310, manufactured by Thinky Corporation) at a rotation speed of 2000 rpm, a pressure of 0.6 kPa, and an operating time of 5 minutes. This resulted in a mixture containing non-animal protein, alginate (a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid), and an alkali compound. The sodium hydroxide content in the mixture was 1500 wtppm, and the pH of the mixture was 10.3. Note that in the mixture, the soybean protein was unfolded by the sodium hydroxide.

[0093] Next, fibers were produced using the above-described spinning apparatus 100 by the following method. First, a discharge device equipped with a gear pump was prepared as the discharge section of the spinning apparatus. A multi-hole nozzle was used as the nozzle of the discharge section. The multi-hole nozzle had 50 discharge ports with a diameter of 0.2 mm. Next, the mixed liquid was poured into the storage section of the discharge section, and the mixed liquid was discharged from the nozzle. The discharge rate of the mixed liquid from the nozzle was set to 21 mL / min. After confirming that the mixed liquid had been discharged from the nozzle, the nozzle was immersed in the coagulation liquid stored in the coagulation section. The coagulation liquid was an aqueous solution containing calcium chloride (manufactured by Canada Pharmaceutical Industries) as a coagulant and citric acid (manufactured by Kenei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) as an acid compound. The calcium chloride content of the coagulation liquid was 1 wt %, and the citric acid content was 2 wt %.

[0094] The discharged material (liquid mixture) from the nozzle solidified upon contact with the coagulation liquid. This resulted in the formation of a fiber. The fiber was grasped by hand and set on a bobbin (made of silicon, diameter 7.5 cm) in the winding section. The bobbin was then driven to wind the fiber. At this time, the winding speed around the bobbin was set to 21 m / min. The draw ratio of the fiber when wound around the bobbin was 1.55.

[0095] When a sufficient amount of fiber was wound, the discharge of the mixed solution from the nozzle was stopped. Next, the fiber removed from the bobbin was cut with scissors. The obtained fiber was washed with water at 25°C for several minutes. The operation of wiping excess water from the fiber with a Kimtowel was repeated three times.

[0096] Next, the prepared fibers were cut to a length of 9.5 cm. The fibers were placed in a silicone mold with the fiber extension direction aligned. The mold had a rectangular container measuring 9.5 cm in length, 9.5 cm in width, and 3 cm in depth. Next, a dispersion was prepared by dispersing 8 g of transglutaminase (Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Activa Supercard) in 12 g of water as a compound to promote fiber bonding. This dispersion was added to the mold. A 20G plastic needle was inserted between the fibers several times to spread the dispersion throughout the mold.

[0097] Next, the top of the storage section of the mold was sealed with plastic wrap, and a pusher (9.5 cm long, 9.5 cm wide, 3 cm high) was placed on top of it. Furthermore, a 2 kg weight was placed on top of the pusher. This increased the pressure inside the mold to 2.17 kPa from the atmospheric pressure of the surrounding environment. In this state, the mold was placed in a heating dryer (LC-114, manufactured by Espec Corporation) and heated at 50°C for 45 minutes. This resulted in the fiber aggregate of Example 1, in which the fibers were bonded together. An image of this fiber aggregate is shown in Figure 2.

[0098] (Example 2 and Comparative Example 1) The fiber aggregates of Example 2 and Comparative Example 1 were obtained by the same method as Example 1, except that the content of sodium alginate in the mixed liquid used to prepare the fibers was changed as shown in Table 1.

[0099] (Comparative Examples 2 and 3) Fibers were attempted to be produced by the same method as in Example 1, except that the content of sodium alginate in the mixed solution used to produce the fibers was changed as shown in Table 1. However, in Comparative Examples 2 and 3, the material (mixed solution) discharged from the nozzle did not solidify even when it came into contact with the coagulation liquid, and no fibers were obtained.

[0100] (Comparative Example 4) A fiber assembly of Comparative Example 4 was obtained by the same method as in Example 1, except that the aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was not added to the mixed solution used to prepare the fibers. Note that in the mixed solution used in Comparative Example 4, the soy protein was in an unfolded state.

[0101] [Composition of Fiber Assembly] First, the fiber assemblies produced in the Examples and Comparative Examples were cut into 1 cm squares and immersed in water at 25°C for 3 minutes to prepare water-saturated fiber assemblies (test specimens). After wiping off excess water from the surface of the test specimen, the test specimen was placed in a heating moisture meter (MX-50, manufactured by A&D Co., Ltd.) and subjected to a heat treatment at 105°C. The heat treatment was continued until the rate of water loss in the test specimen fell below 0.10 wt% / min. Based on the weights of the test specimens before and after the heat treatment, the moisture content R1 of the water-saturated fiber assembly was calculated using the above-mentioned formula.

[0102] Next, the weight ratio C1 (100-R1) of the solid content in the water-saturated fiber assembly was calculated from the moisture content R1. The alginic acid content R2, converted to sodium alginate, in the water-saturated fiber assembly was calculated as the product of the weight ratio C1 and the weight ratio C3 of sodium alginate to the solid content in the mixed solution used to produce the fiber. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0103] The alginic acid content R2 of the fiber assembly of Example 1 was also determined by the above-mentioned colorimetric method. The colorimetric method was performed as follows.

[0104] (Pretreatment) First, 2 g of a water-saturated fiber assembly sample was accurately weighed into a 50 mL centrifuge tube, and 20 mL of 1 wt % sodium bicarbonate solution (Sigma-Aldrich special grade reagent dissolved in pure water) was added. Next, the tube was heated in a 60°C water bath for 15 minutes and then stirred using a vortex mixer (Kenis, VORTEX-Genie 2). Next, the tube was centrifuged at 3,500 rpm for 10 minutes using a centrifuge (Tomy Seiko, multi-rack tabletop centrifuge LCX-100), and the resulting supernatant was collected in a separate container. All subsequent centrifugations were also performed at 3,500 rpm for 10 minutes.

[0105] Next, 20 mL of 1 wt% sodium bicarbonate water was added to the remaining precipitate, and the mixture was heated in a 60°C water bath for 15 minutes and stirred using a vortex mixer. This was centrifuged, and the resulting supernatant was collected in a separate container. 1 mol / L hydrochloric acid (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries) was added to a mixture of the supernatants collected from the two treatments, and the pH was adjusted to 2-3. 20 mL of pure water was then added, and the mixture was left to stand for 60 minutes before being centrifuged. The supernatant was removed, and the precipitate was collected.

[0106] To the resulting precipitate, 40 mL of 1.1 mol / L sulfuric acid (10% sulfuric acid, Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was added and stirred for 3 minutes using a vortex mixer. This was then centrifuged, the supernatant was removed, and the precipitate was recovered. The same procedure was repeated for the remaining precipitate. The precipitate was suspended in 3 mol / L aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) and the pH was adjusted to 9-10. Next, 1 mL of a mixture containing magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) at a concentration of 1 mol / L and sodium sulfate (anhydrous) (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, special reagent grade) at a concentration of 2.2 mol / L was added, and the mixture was heated in an 80°C water bath for 10 minutes.

[0107] Next, after cooling at room temperature, the mixture was centrifuged, and the resulting supernatant was collected in a separate container. At this time, the supernatant was filtered using filter paper No. 5A, if necessary. 2 mL of a 2.5 mol / L aqueous solution of sodium sulfate (special grade reagent from Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., dissolved in pure water) was added to the remaining precipitate, and the mixture was stirred using a vortex mixer. The mixture was centrifuged, and the supernatant was collected and mixed with the previous supernatant.

[0108] The supernatant mixture was adjusted to pH 3-4 by adding 1 mol / L hydrochloric acid. 3 mL of 10 wt% copper sulfate solution (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was added, and then pure water was added and brought to 20 mL using a measuring flask. After standing for 60 minutes, the mixture was centrifuged, the supernatant was removed, and the precipitate was recovered. 10 mL of pH 4 water (purified water with 1 mol / L hydrochloric acid added to adjust the pH) was added to the precipitate and stirred with a vortex mixer to disperse the precipitate in water. After centrifugation, the supernatant was removed, and 1 mL of 1 mol / L ammonia water was added to the precipitate to dissolve it. A test solution was prepared to a constant volume of 50 mL using pure water and a measuring flask.

[0109] (Colorimetric determination) Next, 100 mg of 1,3-naphthalenediol (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, first-grade reagent) was accurately weighed, and 25 mL of pure water was added and stirred to dissolve the mixture, preparing a color solution. 2 mL of the test solution was accurately weighed into a 50 mL centrifuge tube, and 4 mL of copper-hydrochloric acid test solution (40 mL of concentrated hydrochloric acid mixed with 1 mL of 2.5 wt % copper (II) sulfate solution and 9 mL of pure water) was added. 2 mL of the color solution was added to this, and the mixture was heated in boiling water for 65 minutes and then cooled in an ice bath.

[0110] Next, 8 mL of butyl acetate (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, special reagent grade) was added and stirred using a vortex mixer. After centrifuging, the butyl acetate layer was filtered through No. 5C filter paper to obtain a measurement solution. The measurement solution was filled into a quartz cell (two-sided transparent) with a screw cap and an optical path length of 10 mm, and the absorbance (wavelength 566 nm) was measured using a UV-Vis-Near-Infrared Spectrophotometer (Jasco, V-750). The amount of sodium alginate (μg / mL) in the measurement solution was determined using the calibration curve described below, and the sodium alginate content (g / kg) was calculated using the following formula: Sodium alginate content in fiber assembly (g / kg) = (A × V) / (W × 1000) A: sodium alginate concentration in the measurement solution (μg / mL) V: volume of test solution (mL) W: amount of fiber assembly collected (g)

[0111] (Calibration curve) Sodium alginate powder was accurately weighed and made up to 100 mL using pure water. After confirming that the sodium alginate was completely dissolved, 5 g of the resulting sodium alginate solution was accurately weighed into a 100 mL measuring flask. Pure water was added to make the solution exactly 100 mL to prepare a standard solution. 0 g, 1 g, 2 g, 4 g, and 6 g of the standard solution were accurately weighed, and pure water was added to each solution to make the solution exactly 10 g to prepare test solutions for the calibration curve. A calibration curve for sodium alginate was obtained by subjecting these test solutions to colorimetric quantification. In order to obtain accurate measurement values ​​that take into account the effects of the above-mentioned pretreatment and treatment before colorimetric quantification, colorimetric quantification was also performed on sodium alginate (Kimica Algin I-1G, manufactured by Kimica Co., Ltd.) that had been pretreated and treated before colorimetric quantification. Specifically, the apparent sodium alginate content obtained by colorimetric analysis of a sample in which sodium alginate alone was subjected to pretreatment and pre-colorimetric treatment was 12.5% ​​of the weighed value (the actual weight of the sample subjected to pretreatment). Based on this result, the accurate amount of sodium alginate contained in the fiber assembly was determined by multiplying the measured value (g / kg) obtained by colorimetric analysis after pretreatment by 100 / 12.5.

[0112] The alginic acid content R2 of the fiber assembly of Example 1, determined by the colorimetric method, was 3.44 wt %, which was almost the same as the content R2 (3.50 wt %) calculated as the product of the weight ratio C1 of the solid content in the water-saturated fiber assembly and the weight ratio C3 of sodium alginate to the solid content in the mixed solution used to produce the fiber.

[0113] [Texture Evaluation] Four panelists skilled in texture evaluation actually tasted the fiber assemblies produced in the Examples and Comparative Examples. Using chicken breast meat (thoroughly grilled on both sides and ready to eat), an example of meat that can be imitated, as a comparison, a sensory evaluation was conducted on the hardness, juiciness, and fibrous texture of the fiber assemblies. In detail, the panelists jointly evaluated the fiber assemblies according to the following evaluation criteria. <Evaluation Criteria> Hardness ◯: Almost the same hardness as chicken breast meat. △: Acceptable hardness for chicken breast meat. ×: Hardness far from that of chicken breast meat. Juiciness ◯: Almost the same as chicken breast meat, with a moist impression. △: Slightly drier than chicken breast meat, but to an acceptable extent. ×: Dry texture far from that of chicken breast meat. Fibrous Texture ◯: Almost the same fibrous texture as chicken breast meat. △: There is a fibrous texture, but compared to chicken breast meat, the fibrous texture is excessive or insufficient. ×: Far from chicken breast meat, there is almost no fibrous texture.

[0114] Furthermore, the overall texture of the fiber aggregate was evaluated using a 9-point preference scale. Specifically, each panelist evaluated the texture using the following evaluation criteria, and the average value was calculated. <Evaluation criteria> 9 points: The texture is the same as chicken breast and is indistinguishable from chicken breast. 5 points: The texture is acceptable for chicken breast. 1 point: The texture is far from that of chicken breast and is not suitable as a food product.

[0115]

[0116] The abbreviations in Table 1 are as follows: Fujipro 748: soy protein (Fuji Oil Co., Ltd., Fujipro 748) I-1G: sodium alginate (Kimica Co., Ltd., Kimica Algin I-1G)

[0117] The fiber assembly of Example 1 had a texture similar to that of chicken breast meat overall, but was slightly drier than chicken breast meat. The fiber assembly of Example 2 had a moist texture similar to that of chicken breast meat. The fiber assembly of Comparative Example 1 was brittle and had a poor fibrous texture compared to chicken breast meat. The fiber assembly of Comparative Example 4 was hard and drier than chicken breast meat.

[0118] As described above, the fiber aggregates of the examples, which have a water content R1 of 71 wt% or more when saturated with water and an alginic acid content R2 of 2.0 wt% or more when converted to sodium alginate, have an improved texture compared to the comparative examples.

[0119] The fiber assembly of this embodiment is suitable for use as a food substitute.

Claims

1. A fiber assembly comprising a plurality of fibers, the fiber assembly comprising non-animal protein and alginic acids including a divalent metal salt of alginic acid, the fiber assembly being saturated with water, the water content being 71 wt% or more, and the content of the alginic acids being 2.0 wt% or more, calculated as sodium alginate.

2. A fiber aggregate as described in claim 1, wherein the moisture content is 88 wt % or less, and the content of the alginic acid is 10 wt % or less, calculated as sodium alginate.

3. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the non-animal protein content in the saturated fiber assembly is 10 wt % to 27 wt %.

4. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the non-animal protein comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of soy protein, pea protein, lentil protein, potato protein, seitan protein, amaranth protein and quinoa protein.

5. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the alginic acid group further comprises alginic acid.

6. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, which is edible.

7. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the average fiber diameter of the plurality of fibers is 1 cm or less.

8. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of fibers are bonded to each other.

9. A method for producing a fiber aggregate comprising a plurality of fibers, the fiber aggregate comprising alginates including a divalent metal salt of alginic acid, the method comprising a spinning step of ejecting a mixed liquid comprising a non-animal protein, a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid, and an alkali compound into a coagulation liquid to form the fibers, the coagulation liquid comprising a metal salt including a divalent metal ion, and a content of the monovalent metal salt of alginic acid in the mixed liquid being greater than 0.5 wt %.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coagulation liquid further comprises an acid compound.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising a washing step of washing the fibers after removal from the coagulation liquid.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein an alkaline aqueous solution or water is used as a cleaning liquid in the washing step.

13. The manufacturing method according to claim 9, further comprising a bonding step of bonding at least two of the plurality of fibers to each other.

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 13, wherein in the bonding step, at least two of the fibers are bonded to each other while a plurality of the fibers are contained in a molding die.

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