I bet no one thought about the problem of waste disposal in regard to the
manufacturing of DHA.  The answer to the problem is resolved by this very
interesting patent on the making of pet foods with DHA (wastes from
Martek-spelled Martech in this patent but quite sure same company).  Now how
does this fit in with breastfeeding?  Well breastfeeding gives ya the DHA
without the environmental contamination.  Martek oils obviously have a waste
disposal problem that has been resolved rather creatively--if it works.  But
just think about it? Instead of having cloned microorganisms in our landfills
now we can have them everywhere--because most pets live in our backyards (if
we are lucky enough to have a backyard).  So now Martek's problem is
resolved--thank god!!  Now let's see how do pet owners resolve their disposal
problem?  Who thought that maybe we needed a little diversion from the
depressing AAP breastfeeding booklet problem.....Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html
Patent # 6338866
"Pet foods using algal or fungal wastes containing fatty acids"
Inventors:  Criggal et al.
Assignee:  Applied Food Biotechnology, Inc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods are disclosed for using a waste product which remains when various
types of algae (such as Crypthecodinium cohnii) or fungi (such as Mortierella
alpina) are used to manufacture essential fatty acids. This waste product is
a biomass which includes the cell carcasses that remain after one or more
essential fatty acids (such as docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) have been extracted
from lysed (ruptured) cells. In one preferred embodiment which forms a
biscuit-type treat for dogs or cats, algal biomass is mixed with a
combination of brewer's yeast, a grain product such as whole wheat, and burnt
residues that collect on the interior walls of drying vessels used for
spray-drying of yeast extracts. These ingredients are mixed with water to
form a dough-like substance, which is made into a desired shape for a dog,
cat, or other pet treat. The dough is then cooked to form a pleasant-smelling
biscuit-type treat which dogs and cats find highly appealing. In another
embodiment, algal biomass is incorporated into "flavor or palatability
enhancer" (FPE) additives that are coated onto the surfaces of pelleted or
extruded chunks (kibbles), to prepare a flavored dog or cat food. Using algal
or fungal biomass in this manner eliminates a noxious and foul-smelling waste
problem for manufacturers of nutrition supplements. In addition, pet foods
created in this manner contain significant quantities of DHA, a nutrient that
is highly valuable in foods for dogs and cats.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention discloses methods for using what has formerly been a noxious
and foul-smelling waste product that is generated when certain types of
marine algae (such as Crypthecodinium cohnii) or fungi (such as Mortierella
alpina) are used to manufacture fatty acids. The waste product is the biomass
that remains behind after the fatty acids have been extracted from killed and
ruptured algal or fungal cells.

The samples of algal biomass that were used in the manner described herein
were obtained from Martech Biosciences, Inc. (Columbia, Md.), a company that
manufactures and sells fatty acids as nutritional supplements for human use.
Currently, that company must pay to have its algal waste products disposed of
in sanitary landfills, by incineration, or by similar means designed to
handle a solid waste disposal problem.

Several approaches were tried and tested in an effort to find a way to use
the algal waste product in animal foods, but those efforts did not succeed
until one of the inventors herein (Criggall) happened to be confronted with
several broken bags of brewer's yeast. The bags had ruptured during shipment
of the yeast, and the yeast could no longer be used for its intended purpose.


After considering the situation, Criggall decided to try to find a way to
combine the brewer's yeast with the algal biomass. He decided to focus
initially on dog biscuits, since they can be created and tested using dough
preparations that can be cooked by a simple microwaving or baking procedure,
without requiring the type of large machinery used to manufacture pelleted or
extruded kibbles. Accordingly, he added whole wheat to the algal biomass and
brewer's yeast, in proportions that generated a kneadable dough when water
was also added.



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