Fiber aggregate and method for producing fiber aggregate

Abstract

The present invention provides a fiber aggregate having an improved texture. This fiber aggregate includes a plurality of fibers. The fiber aggregate contains a non-animal protein and a polysaccharide P. The fiber aggregate has a pushing force of 15.0 N to 80.0 N as measured by a test 1, and a tearing force of 0.15 N / mm to 1.5 N / mm as measured by a test 2. The fiber aggregate has, for example, a binding part for binding at least two fibers among the plurality of fibers to each other.

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] The present invention provides a fiber assembly comprising a plurality of fibers, the fiber assembly comprising a non-animal protein and a polysaccharide P, the fiber assembly having an indentation force of 15.0 N to 80.0 N measured by Test 1 below, and a tear force of 0.15 N / mm to 1.5 N / mm measured by Test 2 below. Test 1: A plate-shaped test piece T1 having a thickness of 10 mm is cut out from the fiber assembly saturated with water. Using an indenter having a rectangular surface measuring 10 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width, the indenter is pressed into the test piece T1 in the thickness direction at a pressing rate of 2.0 mm / sec. The maximum load (N) at this time is determined as the indentation force. Test 2: A plate-shaped test piece T2 is cut out from the fiber assembly saturated with water. Two hooks (outer diameter 3.0 mm) are pierced into the test piece T2, and the two hooks penetrate the test piece T2 in the thickness direction. The two hooks are pulled apart at a pulling speed of 2.0 mm / sec to tear the test piece T2. The maximum load (N) at this time is divided by the thickness (mm) of the test piece T2 to determine the tear strength.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for producing the above-mentioned fiber assembly, the method including a spinning step of discharging a mixed liquid containing the non-animal protein and polysaccharide Q1 into a coagulation liquid to form the fibers.

[0009] According to the present invention, a fiber assembly with improved texture can be provided.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining Test 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining Test 2. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method for manufacturing fibers contained in a fiber aggregate. Fig. 4 is a graph showing the pushing force and tearing force of the fiber aggregates and soy protein foods of Examples 1 to 10.

[0011] A fiber assembly according to a first aspect of the present invention is a fiber assembly comprising a plurality of fibers, the fiber assembly comprising a non-animal protein and a polysaccharide P, the indentation force measured by Test 1 below being 15.0 N to 80.0 N, and the tear force measured by Test 2 below being 0.15 N / mm to 1.5 N / mm. Test 1: A plate-shaped test piece T1 having a thickness of 10 mm is cut out from the fiber assembly saturated with water. Using an indenter having a rectangular surface measuring 10 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width, the indenter is pressed into the test piece T1 in the thickness direction at a pressing rate of 2.0 mm / sec. The maximum load (N) at this time is determined as the pressing force. Test 2: A plate-shaped test piece T2 is cut out from the fiber assembly saturated with water. Two hooks (outer diameter 3.0 mm) are pierced into the test piece T2, and the two hooks penetrate the test piece T2 in the thickness direction. The two hooks are pulled apart at a pulling speed of 2.0 mm / sec to tear the test piece T2. The maximum load (N) at this time is divided by the thickness (mm) of the test piece T2 to determine the tear strength.

[0012] In a second aspect of the present invention, for example, the fiber assembly according to the first aspect has a bonding portion that bonds at least two of the plurality of fibers to each other.

[0013] In a third aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber assembly according to the first or second aspect, the polysaccharide P comprises an alginic acid containing a divalent metal salt of alginic acid.

[0014] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber assembly according to the third aspect, the alginic acids further include alginic acid.

[0015] 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 non-animal protein comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of soybean protein, pea protein, lentil protein, chickpea protein, fava bean protein, potato protein, seitan protein, amaranth protein, quinoa protein, wheat protein, rice protein, and corn protein.

[0016] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, for example, the fiber assembly according to any one of the first to fifth aspects further contains oil.

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

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

[0019] In a ninth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the fiber assembly according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the average length of the plurality of fibers is 1 cm or more.

[0020] A tenth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing a fiber assembly according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, and the method includes a spinning step of ejecting a mixed liquid containing the non-animal protein and polysaccharide Q1 into a coagulation liquid to form the fibers.

[0021] In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, for example, in the production method according to the tenth aspect, the polysaccharide Q1 contains a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid.

[0022] In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the production method according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the mixed solution further contains an alkaline compound.

[0023] In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the production method according to any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, the coagulation liquid contains an acid compound.

[0024] In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the production method according to any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, the coagulation liquid contains an alcohol.

[0025] In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, for example, the manufacturing method according to any one of the tenth to fourteenth aspects further includes a bonding step of bonding at least two of the plurality of fibers to each other.

[0026] In a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the manufacturing method according to the fifteenth aspect, the binding step is carried out by contacting the polysaccharide Q2 with a gelling agent while the polysaccharide Q2 is in contact with a plurality of the fibers.

[0027] In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the production method according to the sixteenth aspect, the polysaccharide Q2 contains a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid.

[0028] In an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the production method according to the sixteenth or seventeenth aspect, the gelling agent contains a metal salt containing a divalent metal ion and an acid generator.

[0029] In a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, for example, in the production method according to the eighteenth aspect, the acid generator contains glucono-delta-lactone.

[0030] In a twentieth aspect of the present invention, for example, the production method according to any one of the sixteenth to nineteenth aspects further comprises a freezing step of freezing the polysaccharide Q2 that has been contacted with the gelling agent.

[0031] 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.

[0032] <Embodiment of Fiber Assembly> The fiber assembly of this embodiment includes a plurality of fibers. The fiber assembly includes a non-animal protein and a polysaccharide P. The indentation force of the fiber assembly measured in Test 1 below was 15.0 N to 80.0 N, and the tearing force measured in Test 2 below was 0.15 N / mm to 1.5 N / mm. According to the inventors' studies, fiber assemblies in which the indentation force and tearing force are adjusted to the above ranges tend to have an improved texture. Test 1: A 10 mm thick plate-shaped test piece T1 is cut from a water-saturated fiber assembly. Using an indenter with a rectangular surface measuring 10 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, the indenter is pressed into the test piece T1 in the thickness direction at a pressing speed of 2.0 mm / sec. The maximum load (N) at this time is determined as the pressing force. Test 2: A plate-shaped test piece T2 is cut from a water-saturated fiber assembly. Two hooks (outer diameter 3.0 mm) are pierced into the test piece T2 and penetrated in the thickness direction of the test piece T2. The two hooks are pulled away from each other at a tensile speed of 2.0 mm / sec, and the test piece T2 is torn. The maximum load (N) at this time is divided by the thickness (mm) of the test piece T2 to determine the tear force.

[0033] Specifically, Test 1 can be performed by the following method. First, a fiber assembly saturated with water is prepared. In this specification, "saturated with water" means that when the 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 x |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, to the weight W1 (g) of the fiber assembly before immersion in water.

[0034] Next, a plate-shaped test piece T1 having a thickness of 10 mm is cut out from the fiber assembly. The shape of the test piece T1 may be a disk, an elliptical plate, a rectangular plate, or the like. It is preferable that the size of the test piece T1, other than the thickness, be adjusted to a range that does not affect the measurement results of the indentation force. When the fiber assembly is plate-shaped, the fiber assembly itself may be used as the test piece T1.

[0035] In the test piece T1, the plurality of fibers are preferably not oriented. When the plurality of fibers are oriented, it is preferable that each of the plurality of fibers extend in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the test piece T1.

[0036] Next, as shown in FIG. 1 , the test piece T1 is placed on a support 2 and fixed to the support 2. Next, an indentation test is performed using an indenter 1 having a rectangular surface 1a measuring 10 mm long x 1.5 mm wide, in which the indenter 1 is pressed into the test piece T1 in the thickness direction of the test piece T1. The surface 1a of the indenter 1 is the surface that comes into contact with the test piece T1, and has a size and shape that mimics a human tooth. The indenter 1 is preferably prismatic. The indentation test can be performed using a commercially available texture analyzer. The indentation test is performed at an indentation speed of 2.0 mm / sec until the indenter 1 penetrates the test piece T1 in the thickness direction. The indentation test is performed in an atmosphere of 25°C.

[0037] Next, a graph showing the relationship between load and time is created from the results of the indentation test, and the maximum load (N) is identified from the graph. This maximum load (N) can be identified as the indentation force.

[0038] The pressing force of the fiber aggregate is 15.0 N to 80.0 N, as described above. A fiber aggregate having a pressing force in this range tends to have a moderate chewiness (hardness when chewed). The pressing force of the fiber aggregate is preferably 20.0 N or more, and may be 25.0 N or more, 30.0 N or more, 35.0 N or more, 40.0 N or more, 45.0 N or more, 50.0 N or more, 55.0 N or more, or even 60.0 N or more. The upper limit of the pressing force of the fiber aggregate is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 75.0 N or less, 70.0 N or less, or even 65.0 N or less. The pressing force of the fiber aggregate may, in some cases, be 60.0 N or less, or may be 50.0 N or less.

[0039] Specifically, Test 2 can be performed by the following method. First, a fiber assembly saturated with water is prepared. Next, a plate-shaped test specimen T2 is cut out from the fiber assembly. The shape of the test specimen T2 can be a disk, an elliptical plate, a rectangular plate, or the like. The thickness of the test specimen T2 is preferably about 10 mm. The size of the test specimen T2, other than the thickness, is preferably adjusted to a range that does not affect the tear strength measurement results. When the fiber assembly is plate-shaped, the fiber assembly itself may be used as the test specimen.

[0040] In the test piece T2, the plurality of fibers are preferably not oriented. When the plurality of fibers are oriented, it is preferable that each of the plurality of fibers extend in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the test piece T2 and the direction in which the two hooks 5A and 5B are pulled apart from each other in the tensile test described below.

[0041] Next, as shown in FIG. 2, two hooks 5A and 5B are pierced into the test piece T2, penetrating the test piece T2 in the thickness direction. FIG. 2 shows the state in which the elliptical plate-shaped test piece T2 is pierced by the two hooks 5A and 5B. The hooks 5A and 5B pierce the test piece T2, for example, near the center (center of gravity) of the test piece T2. Before the tensile test, it is preferable that the hooks 5A and 5B are in contact with each other (the initial distance between the hooks is 0 mm). The outer diameters of both the hooks 5A and 5B (particularly the outer diameter of the portion in contact with the test piece T2) are 3.0 mm.

[0042] Next, a tensile test is performed in which the two hooks 5A and 5B are pulled away from each other. The tensile test can be performed using a commercially available tensile tester or texture analyzer. As an example, the tensile test may be performed by fixing one of the hooks 5B to the fixing part 4 located below the test piece T2 and pulling the other hook 5A upward (FIG. 2). The tensile test is performed at a pulling speed of 2.0 mm / sec until the test piece T2 is torn. The tensile test is performed in an atmosphere of 25°C.

[0043] Next, a graph showing the relationship between load and time is created from the results of the tensile test, and the maximum load (N) is determined from the graph. The tear strength can be determined by dividing the maximum load (N) by the thickness (mm) of the test piece T2.

[0044] As described above, the tear strength of the fiber assembly is 0.15 N / mm to 1.5 N / mm. Fiber assemblies having a tear strength within this range tend to have moderate cohesion (a sense of unity when chewed and resistance to unraveling). The tear strength of the fiber assembly may preferably be 0.20 N / mm or more, 0.30 N / mm or more, 0.40 N / mm or more, 0.50 N / mm or more, 0.60 N / mm or more, 0.70 N / mm or more, or even 0.80 N / mm or more. The upper limit of the tear strength of the fiber assembly is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 1.2 N / mm or less, 1.0 N / mm or less, or even 0.90 N / mm or less. In some cases, the tear strength of the fiber assembly may be 0.80 N / mm or less, or 0.70 N / mm or less.

[0045] According to the inventors' investigations, it is difficult to adjust both the pushing force and tearing force of a fiber assembly to large values. As an example, when the pushing force of a fiber assembly is x (N) and the tearing force is y (N / mm), x and y may satisfy the following relation: y≧−0.02x+1.0 (1)

[0046] Furthermore, in the fiber assembly, from the viewpoint of further improving the texture, the above x and y may satisfy the following relational expression: y≦−0.02x+2.2 (2)

[0047] (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, it is preferable that the fibers themselves contain non-animal protein, and it is more preferable that the fibers further contain polysaccharide P1 as the polysaccharide P. In the fiber, the weight ratio of the non-animal protein to the weight of polysaccharide P1 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 0.5 to 20.0. The fiber assembly may contain fibers other than the fibers satisfying the above composition, but it is not necessary for the fiber assembly to contain any other fibers. The fiber assembly may contain a plurality of types of fibers satisfying the above composition.

[0048] The shape of the fiber is not particularly limited. The fiber preferably does not have a branched structure. The fiber is preferably a long fiber, but may be a short fiber. The length of the fiber is, for example, 0.5 cm or more, and may be 1 cm or more, 3 cm or more, 5 cm or more, or even 10 cm or more. The length of the fiber may be, for example, 100 cm or less, 50 cm or less, or even 30 cm or less. The length of the fiber can be measured using a scale such as a vernier caliper. The length of the fiber may also be measured by observing the fiber with an optical microscope or a microscope and using the obtained microscopic image.

[0049] In the fiber assembly, the average length of the plurality of fibers is, for example, 0.5 cm or more, and may be 1 cm or more, 3 cm or more, 5 cm or more, or even 10 cm or more. The average length of the plurality of fibers is, for example, 100 cm or less, 50 cm or less, or even 30 cm or less. The average length of the plurality of fibers can be determined by the following method. First, the lengths of any number of fibers (at least five) are measured using a scale such as a vernier caliper. The length of the fibers may also be measured from the microscopic image obtained by observing the fibers with an optical microscope or a microscope. The average value of the obtained measurements can be considered to be the average length.

[0050] 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 10 μm to 300 μm, and more 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.

[0051] 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 10 μm to 300 μm, and more 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).

[0052] In the fiber assembly, the plurality of fibers are preferably not oriented. However, the plurality of fibers may be oriented in some cases. In this case, 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 may be, for example, 10° or more, 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 may be oriented in the same direction as the muscle fibers contained in the meat to be imitated.

[0053] The fiber content (fibers containing non-animal protein and polysaccharide P1) in the fiber assembly may be, for example, 30 wt% or more, 50 wt% or more, 60 wt% or more, or even 70 wt% or more. The fiber assembly may contain fiber as a major component. In this specification, "major component" refers to the component that is contained in the fiber assembly in the largest amount by weight. The upper limit of the fiber content may be, for example, 99.8 wt% or less, 99.0 wt% or less, 95 wt% or less, 90 wt% or less, or even 80 wt% or less.

[0054] (Bonding portion) The fiber assembly preferably has a bonding portion that bonds at least two fibers among the plurality of fibers. The bonding portion is suitable for adjusting the pushing force and tearing force of the fiber assembly. The fiber assembly may have one or more of the above-mentioned bonding portions. In the fiber assembly, the bonding portion may be a binder that fills voids between the plurality of fibers.

[0055] In the fiber assembly, it is preferable that 10% or more of the fibers among the plurality of fibers are bonded to adjacent fibers via bonded parts, more preferably 50% or more of the fibers are bonded to adjacent fibers via bonded parts, and it is particularly preferable that substantially all of the fibers are bonded to adjacent fibers via bonded parts.

[0056] The binding part preferably contains polysaccharide P2 as the polysaccharide P, and preferably contains polysaccharide P2 as a main component. The binding part may further contain a gelling agent. Details of the gelling agent will be described later. It is preferable that the binding part is substantially free of non-animal proteins.

[0057] The content of the binder part in the fiber assembly may be, for example, 0.2 wt % or more, 1.0 wt % or more, 5 wt % or more, 10 wt % or more, or even 20 wt % or more. The upper limit of the content of the binder part may be, for example, 70 wt % or less, 50 wt % or less, 40 wt % or less, or even 30 wt % or less.

[0058] (Non-animal protein) As described above, the fiber assembly (particularly, the fiber contained in the fiber assembly) contains non-animal protein. Non-animal protein means a protein other than animal protein derived from animals. Non-animal protein is a component suitable for adjusting the nutritional value of the fiber assembly.

[0059] The non-animal protein preferably includes a vegetable protein. Examples of the vegetable protein include soybean protein, pea protein, lentil protein, chickpea protein, fava bean protein, and other bean proteins; potato protein; seitan protein; amaranth protein; quinoa protein; wheat protein; rice protein; and corn protein. The non-animal protein preferably includes at least one vegetable protein selected from the group consisting of soybean protein, pea protein, lentil protein, chickpea protein, fava bean protein, potato protein, seitan protein, amaranth protein, quinoa protein, wheat protein, rice protein, and corn 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.

[0060] In a water-saturated fiber assembly, the non-animal protein content R1 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 R1 may be higher than the polysaccharide P content R2 described below. The non-animal protein content R1 may be, for example, 35 wt% or less, 33 wt% or less, 30 wt% or less, 27 wt% or less, 25 wt% or less, or even 24 wt% or less. The non-animal protein content R1 is preferably 5.0 wt% to 27 wt%. The weight ratio of non-animal protein to the solid content of the fiber assembly is, for example, 35 wt% to 95 wt%. The non-animal protein content R1 can be calculated from the composition of the materials used to manufacture the fiber assembly.

[0061] (Polysaccharide P) As described above, the fiber assembly contains polysaccharide P. Specifically, the fiber assembly preferably contains polysaccharide P1 contained in the fibers and polysaccharide P2 contained in the binding portions as the polysaccharide P. Polysaccharide P1 and polysaccharide P2 may be the same or different from each other.

[0062] The polysaccharide P1 contained in the fiber preferably contains alginic acids including 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." The alginic acids preferably further contain alginic acid in addition to the alginate. In this case, the texture of the fiber assembly tends to be further improved.

[0063] 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%.

[0064] 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 cross-linked structure via a divalent metal ion. Examples of divalent metal ions include calcium ions, magnesium ions, barium ions, iron ions, zinc ions, and copper ions, with calcium ions being preferred.

[0065] The fiber preferably contains only alginic acids as the polysaccharide P1. However, the fiber may contain other polysaccharides besides alginic acids along with alginic acids. Examples of other polysaccharides include xyloglucan, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan gum, and derivatives thereof, from the viewpoint of sufficiently improving the water retention capacity of the fiber assembly. Xyloglucan, in particular, is suitable for improving the water retention capacity of the fiber assembly without excessively increasing the moisture content of the fiber assembly. Furthermore, it has been reported that methylcellulose and its derivatives may cause health problems. In contrast, xyloglucan is highly safe for the human body and is suitable as a component of a fiber assembly as a food substitute.

[0066] Xyloglucan is a polysaccharide containing a glucose-derived structural unit U1 and a xylose-derived structural unit U2. Xyloglucan has a main chain in which multiple U1 structural units are bonded via β-1,4-glycosidic bonds, and a side chain in which U2 structural units are bonded to the main chain via α-1,6-glycosidic bonds. In addition to the structural units U1 and U2, xyloglucan may further contain other structural units such as galactose-derived structural unit U3. Xyloglucan preferably has a weight-average molecular weight of 50,000 to 1,000,000.

[0067] Xyloglucan can be extracted from, for example, cell walls of higher plants such as pea, soybean, poplar, rice, and bamboo shoots, as well as from tamarind seeds. The xyloglucan is preferably tamarind seed gum derived from tamarind seeds. That is, the other polysaccharides preferably contain tamarind seed gum as the xyloglucan.

[0068] The polysaccharide P2 contained in the binding portion preferably contains alginic acids containing a divalent metal salt of alginic acid. Examples of alginic acids include those described above for polysaccharide P1. The binding portion preferably contains only alginic acids as polysaccharide P2, and preferably does not contain other polysaccharides (especially methylcellulose) other than alginic acids. However, the binding portion may contain small amounts of other polysaccharides.

[0069] As described above, in this embodiment, it is preferable that polysaccharide P contains an alginic acid containing a divalent metal salt of alginic acid, and it is particularly preferable that both polysaccharide P1 and polysaccharide P2 contain alginic acids.

[0070] In a water-saturated fiber assembly, the polysaccharide P (polysaccharides P1 and P2) content R2 may be, for example, 0.1 wt% or more, 0.3 wt% or more, 0.5 wt% or more, 1.0 wt% or more, 1.5 wt% or more, 1.8 wt% or more, 2.0 wt% or more, or even 2.1 wt% or more. The higher the polysaccharide P content R2, the more elastic the fiber assembly, which tends to improve the texture of the fiber assembly. The upper limit of the polysaccharide P content R2 may be, for example, 10 wt% or less, 8.0 wt% or less, 5.0 wt% or less, or even 4.0 wt% or less. The weight ratio of polysaccharide P to the solid content of the fiber assembly is, for example, 5 wt% to 50 wt%. The polysaccharide P content R2 can be calculated from the composition of the materials used to manufacture the fiber assembly.

[0071] (Water) In a fiber assembly saturated with water, the moisture content R3 is, for example, 50 wt% or more, and may be 55 wt% or more, 60 wt% or more, 65 wt% or more, 70 wt% or more, 71 wt% or more, 75 wt% or more, 78 wt% or more, 80 wt% or more, 81 wt% or more, 82 wt% or more, or even 83 wt% or more. The higher the moisture content R3, 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 R3 is, for example, 93 wt% or less, and may be 90 wt% or less, 88 wt% or less, or even 85 wt% or less, or in some cases, less than 50 wt%. The weight ratio of the solids content in a fiber assembly saturated with water is, for example, 12 wt% to 40 wt%, or may be 12 wt% to 29 wt%.

[0072] The moisture content R3 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 moisture contained in the fiber assembly. The heat treatment is continued until the rate at which the water in the fiber assembly decreases 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 R3 can be calculated using the following formula: Moisture content R3 (wt%) = 100 x (weight W3 - weight W4) / weight W3

[0073] The fiber aggregate of this embodiment may have a moisture content of less than 50 wt% as long as it is not saturated with water. In particular, during storage or transportation, it is preferable for the fiber aggregate to have a low moisture content, which may be, for example, 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, it is preferable for the fiber aggregate provided to consumers to have a moisture content of 50 wt% or more (particularly 65 wt% or more or 71 wt% or more).

[0074] (Other Components) The fiber assembly of the present embodiment may or may not further contain other components in addition to the non-animal protein, polysaccharide P, and water. Examples of other components include animal protein, lipids, alkaline compounds, coagulants, acid compounds, softeners, lubricants, gelling agents, fragrances, seasonings, water-retaining agents, emulsifiers, and oils.

[0075] 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.

[0076] The gelling agent is used in the binding step of the manufacturing method of the fiber assembly, which will be described later, and includes, for example, a metal salt containing a divalent metal ion and an acid generator. The acid generator may be decomposed in the fiber assembly. In other words, the fiber assembly may contain a decomposition product of the acid generator. Details of the metal salt and the acid generator will be described later.

[0077] The texture of the fiber aggregate tends to be improved by including oil, such as salad oil, rapeseed oil (e.g., canola oil), palm oil (coconut oil), soybean oil, palm oil, rice bran oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, palm kernel oil, olive oil, safflower oil, perilla oil, linseed oil, and castor oil.

[0078] In a fiber assembly saturated with water, the content of other components may be, for example, 45 wt% or less, 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.

[0079] In the case where a fiber assembly saturated with water contains oil, the oil content is preferably, for example, 1 wt % or more, and may be 5 wt % or more, 10 wt % or more, 15 wt % or more, or even 20 wt % or more. The upper limit of the content is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 40 wt % or less. The oil content can be measured, for example, by acid decomposition or the Soxhlet method using diethyl ether as an extraction solvent.

[0080] 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. The fiber assembly may be substantially free of components other than foods or food additives, such as plasticizers (softeners) and surfactants.

[0081] (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 beef (particularly beef round).

[0082] (Method for Producing Fiber Assembly) The method for producing a fiber assembly of this embodiment preferably includes a spinning step in which a mixed liquid containing a non-animal protein and polysaccharide Q1 is discharged into a coagulation liquid to form fibers. A fiber assembly can be produced by assembling multiple fibers obtained in the spinning step. Note that it is preferable that polysaccharide Q1 is converted into the above-mentioned polysaccharide P1 upon contact with the coagulation liquid.

[0083] The spinning process can be carried out using, for example, a spinning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 3. 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).

[0084] 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 a syringe pump can be used as the discharge unit 10. As described above, the mixed liquid stored in the storage unit 11 contains non-animal protein and polysaccharide Q1. It is preferable that the mixed liquid further contains an alkaline compound.

[0085] Examples of non-animal proteins contained in the above-mentioned mixture include those mentioned above for the fiber aggregate. Non-animal proteins typically have a unique three-dimensional structure based on their amino acid sequence. However, when the mixture further contains an alkaline compound, the three-dimensional structure of the non-animal protein tends to be destroyed, resulting in the non-animal protein taking on a string-like structure. In this specification, the destruction of the three-dimensional structure of the non-animal protein by an alkaline compound is sometimes referred to as "unfolding."

[0086] According to the studies of the present inventors, by mixing a 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 polysaccharide P content R2 and the water content R3 in a water-saturated fiber aggregate (particularly the fibers contained in the fiber aggregate) to appropriate values.

[0087] 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.

[0088] The content of non-animal protein in the mixed liquid is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 1.0 wt % to 30 wt %.

[0089] Polysaccharide Q1 preferably contains a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid. 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."

[0090] 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.

[0091] The mixed solution preferably contains only a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid as polysaccharide Q1, but may further contain other polysaccharides as described above.

[0092] The content of polysaccharide Q1 in the mixed solution is preferably 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 content of polysaccharide Q1 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, 5.0 wt % or less. Note that if the content of polysaccharide Q1 is significantly less than 0.5 wt %, spinning of fiber 6 tends to be difficult.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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 12.

[0095] 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 %.

[0096] The mixture may further contain the components described above as other components contained in the fiber aggregate (such as a softener, a lubricant, an emulsifier, and an oil). When the mixture contains an oil and an emulsifier, the oil tends to form an emulsion in the mixture. In this case, it is possible to add more oil to the mixture.

[0097] 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.

[0098] 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.

[0099] The coagulation liquid 21 preferably 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. When the polysaccharide Q1 contains an alginate, 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 in the mixed solution are exchanged for divalent metal ions, 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%.

[0100] 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."

[0101] The acid compound is preferably edible. Examples of the acid compound include, but are not limited to, citric acid and acetic acid, with acetic 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 %.

[0102] It is preferable that the coagulation liquid 21 further contains an alkaline compound. In other words, it is preferable that the coagulation liquid 21 contains an acid compound and an alkaline compound. This coagulation liquid 21 tends to increase the moisture content of the formed fiber 6. The alkaline compound is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include sodium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate. It is preferable that the content of the alkaline compound in the coagulation liquid 21 is lower than the content of the acid compound. The content of the alkaline compound in the coagulation liquid 21 is, for example, 0.1 wt % to 10 wt %. Note that in the coagulation liquid 21, the alkaline compound may form a salt with the acid compound.

[0103] 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.

[0104] It is preferable that the coagulation liquid 21 further contains an alcohol. The alcohol can function, for example, as an antiseptic. For example, adding an alcohol tends to kill bacteria in the coagulation liquid 21 and also tends to inhibit the growth of bacteria. The alcohol is not particularly limited, and is, for example, a lower alcohol having 5 or less carbon atoms, preferably ethanol. The content of the alcohol in the coagulation liquid 21 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 0.1 wt % to 90 wt %.

[0105] 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.

[0106] 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.

[0107] 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.

[0108] 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.

[0109] 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.

[0110] 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.

[0111] The manufacturing method of this embodiment preferably further includes a bonding step of bonding at least two fibers 6 among the plurality of fibers 6. Bonding of the fibers 6 can be performed, for example, by the following method. First, polysaccharide Q2 is brought into contact with the plurality of fibers 6. Specifically, a dispersion in which polysaccharide Q2 is dispersed in water is brought into contact with the plurality of fibers 6. The dispersion may contain some of the components contained in the gelling agent described below. Furthermore, the dispersion may contain other components (e.g., emulsifier, oil) that are described above as being contained in the fiber aggregate. When the dispersion contains oil and an emulsifier, the oil tends to form an emulsion in the dispersion. In this case, a larger amount of oil tends to be added to the dispersion. When the dispersion contains oil, the oil content in the dispersion is, for example, 0.5 wt % to 60 wt %, preferably 20 wt % to 40 wt %.

[0112] Preferably, polysaccharide Q2 is one that changes into the above-mentioned polysaccharide P2 upon contact with a gelling agent described below. Polysaccharide Q2 preferably contains a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid (alginate). Examples of alginate include those described above for polysaccharide Q1. In the production method of this embodiment, it is preferable to use only alginate as polysaccharide Q2, and it is preferable that the polysaccharide Q2 does not contain any other polysaccharides (particularly methylcellulose) other than alginate.

[0113] Next, while the polysaccharide Q2 is in contact with the plurality of fibers, the polysaccharide Q2 is brought into contact with a gelling agent. As a result, the polysaccharide Q2 (specifically, the dispersion containing the polysaccharide Q2) is gelled, and bonded portions are formed. The fibers 6 are bonded to each other via the bonded portions.

[0114] The gelling agent preferably contains a metal salt containing a divalent metal ion and an acid generator. Examples of metal salts include those mentioned above for the coagulant, and a carbonate such as calcium carbonate is preferred. The acid generator is, for example, a compound that forms an acidic group such as a carboxyl group upon hydrolysis. The acid generator preferably contains gluconodeltalactone (GDL). The combination of alginate as polysaccharide Q2 and GDL as the acid generator is suitable for improving the pushing force and tearing force of the fiber assembly. When GDL is used as the acid generator, the fiber assembly may contain gluconic acid as a decomposition product of the acid generator. The acid generator preferably does not contain condensed phosphate compounds such as condensed phosphoric acid and condensed phosphate salts.

[0115] The method for contacting the polysaccharide Q2 with the gelling agent is not particularly limited. For example, when the gelling agent contains the metal salt and acid generator, the polysaccharide Q2 can be contacted with the gelling agent by the following method. First, a dispersion in which the polysaccharide Q2 and the metal salt are dispersed in water is prepared, and this dispersion is then contacted with the plurality of fibers 6. At this time, it is preferable to thoroughly mix the dispersion with the plurality of fibers 6. In this embodiment, the content of the polysaccharide Q2 in the dispersion is, for example, 0.5 wt % to 10.0 wt %, preferably 2.0 wt % to 6.0 wt %. The content of the metal salt in the dispersion is, for example, 0.01 wt % to 5.0 wt %, preferably 0.1 wt % to 3.0 wt %. The ratio S1 of the weight of the plurality of fibers 6 to the weight of the dispersion is, for example, 5:5 to 9:1.

[0116] Next, an acid generator is further added. The amount of acid generator added is preferably adjusted so that the ratio S2 of the weight of the acid generator to the total weight (the total weight of the plurality of fibers 6, the dispersion, and the acid generator) is, for example, 0.1 wt % to 10.0 wt % (preferably 0.5 wt % to 3.0 wt %). By adding the acid generator, the metal salt in the dispersion mixes with the acid generator and functions as a gelling agent. This allows the polysaccharide Q2 to come into contact with the gelling agent.

[0117] The acid generator generates an acid upon contact with the dispersion. Specifically, the acid generator is hydrolyzed in the dispersion to form acidic groups. The formation of acidic groups causes the hydrolyzed acid generator to function as an acid. This acid reacts with a metal salt, generating divalent metal ions from the metal salt. When polysaccharide Q2 contains an alginate, the divalent metal ions can form ionic bonds with the G blocks of the alginate. Specifically, the metal ions (monovalent metal ions) contained in the alginate are exchanged for divalent metal ions, thereby crosslinking multiple alginic acid molecules via the divalent metal ions. This crosslinking reaction promotes gelation of polysaccharide Q2 (specifically, the dispersion containing polysaccharide Q2), forming bonds.

[0118] In the bonding step, in order to promote hydrolysis of the acid generator, the polysaccharide Q2 and the gelling agent may be heated in contact with each other. In this case, the heating temperature is, for example, 30°C to 70°C, and the heating time is, for example, 1 minute to 5 hours. However, the polysaccharide Q2 and the gelling agent may also be left in contact with each other at room temperature (25°C) for approximately 1 hour to 72 hours.

[0119] The bonding step may or may not involve the use of a molding die. The molding die may have, for example, a receiving portion having a shape similar to that of the meat to be imitated. As an example, the bonding step may be performed by placing the plurality of fibers 6 in the molding die while the plurality of fibers 6 are in contact with the polysaccharide Q2 and the gelling agent.

[0120] 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.

[0121] The manufacturing method of this embodiment may further include a freezing step in which polysaccharide Q2 (more specifically, the bonded portion formed by gelling of polysaccharide Q2) that has been contacted with the gelling agent in the bonding step is frozen. The freezing step dehydrates and hardens the bonded portion, which tends to improve the pushing force of the fiber assembly. According to the inventors' studies, this tendency is particularly pronounced when the bonded portion contains only alginic acids as polysaccharide P2 and is substantially free of non-animal proteins. Because non-animal proteins tend to have high moisture retention, fibers containing non-animal proteins are less likely to be dehydrated and harden in the freezing step.

[0122] In the freezing step, the freezing temperature of the bonded portion is, for example, −80° C. to 0° C., and preferably −20° C. to 0° C. The freezing time of the bonded portion is, for example, 10 minutes to 24 hours.

[0123] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing a fiber assembly, comprising: a spinning step of discharging a mixed liquid containing a non-animal protein and polysaccharide Q1 into a coagulation liquid to form fibers; a binding step of contacting polysaccharide Q2 with a gelling agent while the polysaccharide Q2 is in contact with a plurality of fibers, thereby binding at least two fibers among the plurality of fibers to each other; and a freezing step of freezing the polysaccharide Q2 that has been contacted with the gelling agent.

[0124] The manufacturing method of this embodiment may further include a heating step of heating the fiber assembly before or after the freezing 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. The heating step may be performed by bringing water vapor at 50°C or higher into contact with the fiber assembly.

[0125] (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.

[0126] 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.

[0127] Example 1: First, distilled water was added to a disposable cup and stirred with 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 Co., Ltd., Kimica Algin I-1G) were added to the cup in this order little by little and dissolved in water to prevent lumps. Next, 3 parts by weight of a 5 wt% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution obtained by mixing sodium hydroxide (food additive grade, manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) with water 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 THINKY 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 mixed solution containing non-animal protein, alginate (a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid), and an alkaline compound. The sodium hydroxide content in the mixed solution was 1500 wtppm, and the pH of the mixed solution was 10.2. Note that in the mixed solution, the soy protein was unfolded by the sodium hydroxide.

[0128] 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 solution was poured into the storage section of the discharge section, and the mixed solution was discharged from the nozzle. The discharge rate of the mixed solution from the nozzle was set to 21 mL / min. After confirming that the mixed solution had been discharged from the nozzle, the nozzle was immersed in the coagulation solution stored in the coagulation section. The coagulation solution used was an aqueous solution containing calcium chloride (manufactured by Canada Pharmaceutical Industries) as a coagulant, glacial acetic acid (manufactured by Kosakai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) as an acid compound, and sodium hydroxide (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., food additive grade) as an alkaline compound. The calcium chloride content of the coagulation solution was 0.5 wt %, the acetic acid content was 2 wt %, and the sodium hydroxide content was 0.4 wt %.

[0129] 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.

[0130] 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. Next, the produced fiber was cut to a length of 9.5 cm.

[0131] Next, powdered sodium alginate (Kimica Algin I-1G, manufactured by Kimica Co., Ltd.), calcium carbonate, and water were mixed and stirred to prepare a dispersion (sol). The sodium alginate content in the dispersion was 4.0 wt% and the calcium carbonate content was 1.0 wt%. Next, these were mixed so that the ratio S1 of the weight of the multiple fibers to the weight of the dispersion was 5:5.

[0132] Next, glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) was added to the resulting mixture. The amount of GDL added was adjusted so that the ratio S2 of the weight of GDL to the total weight (total weight of the fibers, dispersion, and GDL) was 2.5 wt%. The addition of GDL brought the gelling agent (calcium carbonate and GDL) into contact with sodium alginate. After the addition of GDL, these were quickly mixed and placed in a silicone mold. The mold had a rectangular container measuring 9.5 cm in length, 9.5 cm in width, and 3 cm in depth.

[0133] Next, the upper part 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 for 1 minute. Next, after removing the weight, the mold was placed in a heating dryer (LC-114, manufactured by Espec Corporation) and heated at 50°C for 45 minutes. This formed bonds, and the fibers were bonded to each other via the bonds (bonding process).

[0134] Next, the obtained fiber assembly was placed in a container (steamer), and a heating step was carried out by continuously supplying steam at 100°C into the container for 30 minutes. After the heating step, the fiber assembly was left overnight in an environment of -4°C, and a freezing step was carried out to freeze the bonded portions. This was thawed at room temperature to obtain the fiber assembly of Example 1.

[0135] (Examples 2 to 8) The fiber assemblies of Examples 2 to 8 were obtained by the same method as Example 1, except that in the bonding step, the composition of the dispersion, the ratio S1 of the weight of the plurality of fibers to the weight of the dispersion, and the ratio S2 of the weight of the GDL to the total weight were changed as shown in Table 1.

[0136] Example 9 In Example 9, a commercially available soy protein food product (trade name "Soy Meat (Block)" manufactured by Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.) was prepared. This soy protein food product was a dry product and did not contain fiber.

[0137] Example 10: First, fibers were prepared using the same method as in Example 1. Next, a dispersion of a chelating agent, sodium metaphosphate (Kanto Chemical Co., Ltd., product number 58023-17), was prepared by dispersing it in a small amount of water. The dispersion was added to multiple fibers, and the fibers were kneaded for 1 minute. This brought the multiple fibers into contact with the chelating agent, resulting in the formation of a sol on the fiber surface. The amount of chelating agent added was adjusted so that the ratio of the weight of the chelating agent added to the fibers to the weight of the fibers was 2.0 wt %.

[0138] Next, the fibers were allowed to stand with the chelating agent in contact with them. During this time, the water contained in the fibers gradually hydrolyzed the chelating agent. Next, a dispersion of calcium sulfate (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., product number 031-00935) was prepared in a small amount of water. Three minutes after the fibers were contacted with the chelating agent, the dispersion was added to the fibers, and they were kneaded for approximately 1 minute. The amount of calcium sulfate added was adjusted so that the ratio of the weight of calcium sulfate added to the fibers to the weight of the fibers was 1.0 wt%.

[0139] After kneading multiple fibers and calcium sulfate, the mixture was placed in a silicone mold and allowed to stand overnight. The mold had a rectangular parallelepiped container with dimensions of 9.5 cm in length, 9.5 cm in width, and 3 cm in depth. While the fibers were left standing, the surfaces of the fibers gelled. This caused the fibers to bond directly to each other when they came into contact, resulting in the fiber aggregate of Example 10.

[0140] <Evaluation> The following evaluations were carried out using the fiber assemblies and soy protein foods prepared in each of the above examples. Both the fiber assemblies and soy protein foods were immersed in water at room temperature for 1 hour to be saturated with water.

[0141] [Indentation Force] The indentation force of the fiber assembly (and soy protein food product) was measured using the following method. First, a 10 mm thick plate-shaped test piece T1 was cut from the fiber assembly. The test piece T1 was placed on the support of a texture analyzer (TA.XTplusC Texture Analyser, manufactured by Stable Micro Systems). Next, an indenter with a rectangular surface measuring 10 mm long and 1.5 mm wide was set on the movable part located above the support. The indenter was positioned so that its surface was 20 mm away from the support. Next, an indentation test was performed by moving the indenter toward the test piece T1 and pressing it into the test piece T1 in the thickness direction. The indentation test was performed at an indentation speed of 2.0 mm / sec until the indenter penetrated the test piece T1 in the thickness direction. From the results of the indentation test, a graph showing the relationship between load and time was created, and the maximum load (N) was read from the graph and determined as the indentation force.

[0142] The above test was performed at least twice for each fiber assembly, and Table 2 and Figure 4 show the average values ​​of the indentation force determined over multiple tests.

[0143] [Tearing Force] The tearing force of the fiber assembly (and soy protein food product) was measured by the following method. First, a plate-shaped test piece (approximately 10 mm thick) was cut out from the fiber assembly. Two hooks (outer diameter 3.0 mm) were pierced into this test piece in the thickness direction of the test piece in the manner described above with reference to Figure 2. These hooks were set in a texture analyzer (TA.XTplusC Texture Analyser, manufactured by Stable Micro Systems). Specifically, one hook was fixed to a fixed part located below the test piece, and the other hook was attached to a movable part located above the test piece. Next, a tensile test was performed by pulling the other hook upward with the movable part. The tensile test was performed at a pulling speed of 2.0 mm / sec until the test piece was torn. From the results of the tensile test, a graph showing the relationship between load and time was created, and the maximum load (N) was determined from the graph. Furthermore, the maximum load (N) was divided by the thickness (mm) of the test piece to determine the tearing force.

[0144] The above test was performed at least twice for each fiber assembly. Table 2 and Figure 4 show the average tear force determined from multiple tests.

[0145] [Texture Evaluation] The texture of the fiber aggregates (and soy protein foods) prepared in each example was evaluated using the following method. First, the fiber aggregates were sliced ​​to a thickness of approximately 5 mm and cooked by frying each side for approximately 1 minute each (approximately 2 minutes in total) in an oiled frying pan. Note that, before cooking, the fiber aggregate of Example 10 was placed in a container (steamer) and subjected to a heating process by continuously supplying steam at 100°C into the container for 30 minutes.

[0146] Next, five panelists skilled in evaluating texture actually tasted the cooked fiber aggregates. Using beef round meat (cooked in the same way as the fiber aggregate), an example of meat that can be used as an imitation, as a comparison, the fiber aggregates were subjected to a sensory evaluation of their chewiness (hardness when chewed), cohesiveness (feeling of firmness when chewed, difficulty in breaking apart), fibrous texture, and juiciness. Specifically, each panelist evaluated the fiber aggregates according to the following evaluation criteria, and the average was calculated. <Evaluation criteria> Chewiness 5 points: Equivalent to beef round meat in hardness. 4 points: Slightly softer than beef round meat, or slightly harder than beef round meat. 3 points: Softer than beef round meat, or harder than beef round meat. 2 points: Much softer than beef round meat, or much harder than beef round meat. 1 point: Extremely soft, or extremely hard, compared to beef round meat. - Cohesiveness 5 points: Equivalent to beef round meat in terms of ease of falling apart. 4 points: Slightly easier to fall apart than beef round meat, or slightly harder to fall apart than beef round meat. 3 points: Easier to fall apart than beef round meat, or harder to fall apart than beef round meat. 2 points: Much easier to fall apart than beef round meat, or much harder to fall apart than beef round meat. 1 point: Not as easy to fall apart as beef round meat, or much harder to fall apart than beef round meat. - Fiber texture 5 points: Equivalent to beef round meat in terms of fiber texture. 4 points: Slightly less fibrous than beef round meat, or slightly more fibrous than beef round meat. 3 points: Less fibrous than beef round meat, or more fibrous than beef round meat. 2 points: Much less fibrous than beef round meat, or much more fibrous than beef round meat. 1 point: The texture is so fibrous that it cannot be compared to beef round meat, or the texture is so fibrous that it cannot be compared to beef round meat. - Juiciness 5 points: The texture is as juicy as beef round meat. 4 points: The texture is a little drier than beef round meat, or a little more juicy than beef round meat. 3 points: The texture is drier than beef round meat, or more juicy than beef round meat. 2 points: The texture is much drier than beef round meat, or much more juicy than beef round meat. 1 point: The texture is so drier that it cannot be compared to beef round meat, or it is so juicy that it cannot be compared to beef round meat.

[0147] 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 beef round meat and is indistinguishable from beef round meat. 6 points: The texture is acceptable for beef round meat. 1 point: The texture is far from the texture of beef round meat and is not suitable as a food product.

[0148]

[0149]

[0150] Details of the materials listed in Table 1 are as follows: I-1G: Sodium alginate (Kimica Co., Ltd., Kimica Algin I-1G) Fujipro 748: Soy protein (Fuji Oil Co., Ltd., Fujipro 748) Oil: Salad oil (Aeon, smooth and rich salad oil) HPMC: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Unitec Foods Co., Ltd., E19)

[0151] As can be seen from Table 2 and FIG. 4, the fiber assemblies of Examples 1 to 8, in which the pushing force was 15.0 N to 80.0 N and the tearing force was 0.15 N / mm to 1.5 N / mm, had an improved texture compared to Examples 9 and 10.

[0152] 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 a non-animal protein and polysaccharide P, the pushing force measured by Test 1 below being 15.0 N to 80.0 N, and the tearing force measured by Test 2 below being 0.15 N / mm to 1.5 N / mm. Test 1: A plate-shaped test piece T1 with a thickness of 10 mm is cut out from the fiber assembly saturated with water. Using an indenter with a rectangular surface measuring 10 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, the indenter is pressed into the test piece T1 in the thickness direction at a pressing speed of 2.0 mm / sec. The maximum load (N) at this time is determined as the pressing force. Test 2: A plate-shaped test piece T2 is cut out from the fiber assembly saturated with water. Two hooks (outer diameter 3.0 mm) are pierced into the test piece T2 and penetrated in the thickness direction of the test piece T2. The two hooks are pulled away from each other at a tensile speed of 2.0 mm / sec, and the test piece T2 is torn. The maximum load (N) at this time is divided by the thickness (mm) of the test piece T2 to determine the tear force.

2. A fiber assembly according to claim 1, having a bonding portion that bonds at least two of the plurality of fibers to each other.

3. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide P comprises an alginic acid containing a divalent metal salt of alginic acid.

4. The fiber assembly according to claim 3, wherein the alginates further include alginic acid.

5. 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, chickpea protein, fava bean protein, potato protein, seitan protein, amaranth protein, quinoa protein, wheat protein, rice protein, and corn protein.

6. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an oil.

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

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

9. The fiber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the average length of the plurality of fibers is 1 cm or more.

10. A method for producing a fiber assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a spinning step of ejecting a mixed liquid containing the non-animal protein and polysaccharide Q1 into a coagulation liquid to form the fibers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the polysaccharide Q1 comprises a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the mixture further contains an alkaline compound.

13. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the coagulation liquid contains an acid compound.

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the coagulation liquid contains an alcohol.

15. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, further comprising a bonding step of bonding at least two of the plurality of fibers to each other.

16. The manufacturing method according to claim 15, wherein the binding step is carried out by contacting the polysaccharide Q2 with a gelling agent while the polysaccharide Q2 is in contact with a plurality of the fibers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the polysaccharide Q2 comprises a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the gelling agent comprises a metal salt containing a divalent metal ion and an acid generator.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the acid generator comprises glucono-delta-lactone.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising a freezing step of freezing the polysaccharide Q2 that has been contacted with the gelling agent.

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