Mycoprotein (Quorn)
Micoproteína (Quorn)
- Date
- 1985 · confidence high
- Place
- Marlow, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- Rank Hovis McDougall and Imperial Chemical Industries
- Field
- Life & health
What it is
A protein food made from the mycelium of the fungus Fusarium venenatum grown in fermenters. It went on sale in 1985 as a low-fat meat substitute.
The project arose in the 1960s from fear of protein shortage; the fungus was isolated from a soil sample at Marlow in 1967 (according to the company).
What it led to
- fungal protein as a meat alternative
- the processed vegetarian food market
- precision fermentation for proteins