A New Functional Food Additive - Biomass Obtained by Bioconversion of Apple Juice Production Waste

Abstract— Functional food products rich in bioactive compounds (protein, lipids, vitamins, etc.) are especially demanded and popular in the modern food market. Due to its easy availability and low cost, apple juice production waste, which is produced in thousands of tons in Georgia, can be considered as a promising raw material for the production of functional food. Mycoprotein-enriched, easily digestible, non-toxic biomass was obtained as a result of successive experiments carried out in the biotechnology laboratory of the Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of the Agrarian University of Georgia. The product obtained by microbial conversion contains Na, P, Ca and Mg, from as macro elements, and also is rich in Zn. The content of raw protein in the biomass is 18%, which fully corresponds to the standards of protein content in chicken feed for s. The raw fat content in a biomass is 7%. The amount of cellulose in the product corresponds to the standards as well. The product was found to have moderate antioxidant activity (60-70%). Based on all above mentioned, the biomass made on the basis of submerged fermentation of apple juice production waste can be recommended as a feed additive in poultry diet.