Abstract: Phaffia rhodozyma strains are described which produce greater than 3,000 ppm astaxanthin based on dry yeast solids when cultivated in a volume of nutrient medium of at least about 1,500 liters and containing in excess of 4 percent, preferably in excess of 6 percent, dry yeast solids. These and other strains are cultivated by an improved fermentation method comprising extending the maturation phase of the fermentation by one or more various techniques including exposing the yeast cells to a low-intensity light, slow feeding the cells with a rapidly metabolized energy source, e.g. glucose, and replacing the rapidly metabolized energy source with a slowly metabolized energy source, e.g. gylcerol. The cells of these strains are incorporated into animal feeds, particularly feeds for salmonid fishes, to impart or enhance the red pigmentation of these animals and products made from these animals.

Abstract: A culture for the production of xanthophylls comprising Nospongiococcum excentricum ATCC 40335 and mutants thereof. The culture having a dry cell weight xanthophyll content of at least about 0.65% and being capable of growing to a cell density of greater than about 40 grams per liter. The culture also comprising: carbon, phosphate, sulfate, iron, magnesium, and nitrogen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for producing beta-carotene using a mated culture of Mucorales fungi. The method includes mutating and selecting negative (minus mating type) and positive (plus mating type) Mucorales fungal microorganisms, culturing the selected negative and positive microorganisms in an effective medium to form a mated culture that produces beta-carotene, and recovering beta-carotene therefrom. The present invention provides mated cultures that overproduce beta-carotene and is also directed to certain negative and positive microorganisms used to overproduce beta-carotene. The present invention also provides beta-carotene formulations produced by the claimed method, and the use of such formulations, for example, to enhance pigmentation, to reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species or phototoxic molecules, to prevent or treat cancer or cardiovascular disease, to provide a Vitamin A supplement, to enhance lactation, and to increase fertility.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a process for producing zeaxanthin which includes mutating algal microorganisms, selecting from said mutated microorganisms a microorganism capable of producing zeaxanthin, culturing the selected microorganism in an effective medium to produce zeaxanthin, and recovering zeaxanthin produced by the selected microorganism. The present invention also provides microorganisms capable of producing zeaxanthin, formulations containing zeaxanthin produced by the disclosed process and the use of such formulations to enhance pigmentation and to reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species and phototoxic molecules.

Abstract: The capital and operating costs of oil burners comprising rotary air compressors are reduced by using compressors that are lubricated with the fuel oil of the burner. Preferably, the fuel oil has the qualities and flow properties of fuel oil No. 2, and the compressor does not require the peripheral equipment of self-contained lubricating systems, e.g. lube oil storage tank, cooling coils, cooling coils fan, etc.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for producing beta-carotene using negative (minus mating type) Mucorales fungal microorganisms. The method includes mutating and selecting negative Mucorales fungal microorganisms, culturing the selected negative microorganisms in an effective medium to produce beta-carotene, and recovering beta-carotene therefrom. The present invention provides negative microorganisms that overproduce beta-carotene, beta-carotene formulations produced by the disclosed method, and the use of such formulations to enhance pigmentation, to reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species or phototoxic molecules, to prevent or treat cancer or cardiovascular disease, to provide a Vitamin A supplement, to enhance lactation, and to increase fertility.

Abstract: A syrup composition that has a sufficiently low viscosity so that it can be poured or pumped, yet upon contact with a calcium-containing confection its viscosity increases.

Abstract: A syrup composition that has a sufficiently low viscosity so that it can be poured or pumped, yet upon contact with a confection the syrup composiiton's viscosity increases.

Abstract: A process for preparing parfried and frozen potato products and potato products produced thereby, which when reconstituted by finish frying or microwave oven heating have an organoleptic appeal of "fast food chain french fries" potato products. Presliced potatoes are subjected to a first parfrying step, a first freezing step, a thawing step following the first freezing step, a second parfrying step and a second freezing step following the second parfrying step. The frozen potatoes may be reconstituted by microwave heating just prior to consumption.

Abstract: Imitation cheese is made by admixing a hydrated casein curd produced by the action of a milk coagulating enzyme on a calcium salt of a milk casein with edible oil and an emulsifying agent with heating at an elevated temperature to form a homogeneous mixture. Preferably, the enzyme is rennet and heating is to above 140.degree. F. An acid is preferably added to the heated mixture with vigorously admixing under homogenizing conditions to produce a homogeneous melted and pasteurized product.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a naturally flavored and colored oleresin spice edible oil extract by contacting ground spice with fortified edible oil to extract flavor and color from the spice followed by pressure separation and blending the extracted spice residue with fresh oil to form a fortified oil containing spice color and flavor for recycling in the extraction process.

Abstract: Novel biologically pure quick acting bakers yeast strains NRRL Y-15338 and NRRL Y-15339 are provided which show good performance in sweet, regular, and lean doughs, and superior performance in sweet and lean doughs, particularly when used in the active dry yeast form. A method of obtaining these and other novel bakers yeast strains by hybridization via protoplast fusion of petite mutants is also provided. Improved methods of baking using these novel bakers yeasts especially in the active dry yeast form are also provided.

Abstract: A process for preparing selenium yeast having a high intracellular selenium content is provided which comprises the continuous incremental feeding of nutrients and selenium compounds to yeast during the growth cycle.

Abstract: Osmotolerant yeasts having high activity in sweet doughs are obtained in high yield by incremental addition or feeding of salts such as NaCl, KCl, CaCl.sub.2, MgCl.sub.2, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, MgSO.sub.4, and K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in the latter propagative stages of yeast production.

Abstract: A root crop harvester comprises means for picking up a mixture of roots, dirt and debris from the surface of a cultivated field and conveying the mixture upwardly and rearwardly along the harvester. The mixture is cleaned of small articles of dirt and debris by apertures along the conveyor means, ribbed rollers and the like. The partially cleaned mixture is passed to sorting conveyors which counterrotate to convey approximately one-half (1/2) of the mixture towards each side of the harvester. Sources of light are positioned to transmit light along the terminal ends of the sorting conveyors and a plurality of light sensors are positioned to receive light reflected from objects located at the terminal ends of the sorting conveyors. The reflected light is processed to generate root signals and dirt/debris signals. Rejecting fingers respond to the root signals to pass roots to a root crop conveyor and respond to dirt/debris signals to pass dirt and debris to a dirt and debris conveyor.

Abstract: A method of producing a chromium yeast product having a high intracellular chromium content which is useful as a dietary chromium supplement is provided by treating an aqueous suspension of live yeast cells adjusted to an acidic pH in the range of 4 to about 7 with a water-soluble non-toxic chromium salt under essentially non-growth conditions for a period sufficient to permit the absorption of a significant amount of intracellular chromium ion by said yeast cells. The yeast cells so treated may be concentrated, washed free of extracellular chromium salts and dried or further grown by the addition of nutrients to the media, said growth period being of sufficient duration to reduce the intracellular chromium content of the yeast to a predetermined level followed by recovery, washing and drying of the chromium yeast as aforesaid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for continuously producing salted cheese curd loaves by separating cheese curd from whey, blending salt with the separated curd in essentially the amount of salt desired in the final cheese being produced, forming the salted curd into a compacted outwardly tapered column and further separating whey from the curd, sequentially severing and discharging cheese curd loaves from the column, pressing the cheese curd loaves while in forms, immersing the pressed loaves into a brine solution for a time sufficient to form a rind on the loaves but insufficient to substantially alter the salt content of the loaves, and curing the rinded cheese curd loaves for a period of time required for the type of cheese being produced. This method shortens the brine curing time for hard cured cheese, and the method and apparatus enable semi-automated and continuous production of cheese curd loaves.

Abstract: A particle injection system for a fluid bed dryer includes a product injection tube inserted into a product containing fluid bed chamber of the dryer for injecting particulate material in a fluidized stream into the chamber of the fluid bed dryer while the dryer is in operation.

Abstract: A fluid bed dryer utilizing a rotating air distribution disc to deliver rotating streams of air to the fluid bed includes salvage apparatus which accumulates, concentrates and returns particulate material which falls from the fluid bed during the drying operation to the fluid bed. A salvage ring is mounted below and completely encircles the disc to receive and accumulate particles of material which fall from the fluid bed to the disc and are flung from the disc by centrifugal force. A collector which is positioned within the salvage ring and driven by the disc, sweeps the internal area of the salvage ring to concentrate the accumulated particles of material and deliver them to a funnel which is connected to a passageway leading back to the fluid bed. The collected particles of material are returned to the fluid bed by air pressure created by pressure differentials within the dryer apparatus.