Microbial cell product patent granted to FUMI Ingredients B.V.

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Biotech (C12N)

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected March 31st, 2026

Summary

The USPTO granted Patent US12588687B2 to FUMI Ingredients B.V. on March 31, 2026, for a microbial cell product and its method of preparation. The patent covers mechanical cell disintegration at 15-35°C to produce extracts for food, animal feed, and cosmetic applications. The patent includes 20 claims and is valid for 20 years from the September 13, 2021 filing date.

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What changed

The USPTO issued Patent US12588687B2 to FUMI Ingredients B.V. (inventors Edgar Suarez Garcia and Corjan Vandenberg) covering a microbial cell product produced via mechanical cell disintegration at 15-35°C, potentially at pH 9-11, followed by separation and recombination of extracts enriched in small and large cell fragments. The patent claims the product, preparation method, and uses in foodstuffs (as an egg-white substitute), animal foodstuffs, and cosmetic formulations.

Companies developing or manufacturing similar microbial cell products for food, feed, or cosmetic applications should review this patent to assess potential infringement risks. No immediate compliance action is required, but R&D and product development teams should consider patent clearance before commercializing related products.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Microbial cell product, method for obtaining said microbial cell product and use of said microbial cell product

Grant US12588687B2 Kind: B2 Mar 31, 2026

Assignee

FUMI INGREDIENTS B.V.

Inventors

Edgar Suarez Garcia, Corjan Vandenberg

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a microbial cell product, said method comprising: providing an aqueous suspension comprising microbial cells; subjecting said suspension to mechanical cell disintegration at a temperature in the range of 15-35° C., preferably at a pH value in the range of 9-11, to obtain an aqueous suspension comprising disintegrated microbial cells; separating the suspension to provide an extract enriched in small cell fragments, and an extract enriched in large cell fragments; and combining at least a portion of each extract, to provide said microbial cell product. The invention further relates to a microbial cell product obtained or obtainable with said method. The invention further relates to the use of said product in foodstuffs, for example as a substitute for egg-white; in animal foodstuffs; and/or in cosmetic formulations.