Question

What is single cell protein? Mention the uses of single cell protein.

Answer 1

Single cell protein (SCP) refers to dried microbial cells or total protein extracted from pure microbial cell culture. SCP is not pure protein. It refers to the whole cells of bacteria, yeast, filamentous fungi or algae. It also contains carbohydrates lipids, nucleic acids, mineral salts and vitamins. The composition depends on the organism and the substrate on which it grows.

Sources: Chlorella (algae), Rhodopseudomonas capsulate (bacteria), Trichoderma (fungi).

Uses of SCP: SCP can be used as a food supplement to humans (food grade) or animals (feed grade). It has application in animal nutrition as fattening calves, poultry and fish breeding. In food, it is used as aroma carrier, vitamin carrier, emulsifying agent and to improve nutrition value of baked products, soups, in ready to serve meals and in the technical field in paper processing, leather processing and as foam stabilisers.