A process for the heterotrophic or predominantly heterotrophic production of
whole-celled
or extracted microbial products with a high concentration of omega-3 highly unsaturated
fatty acids, producible in an aerobic culture under controlled conditions using
biologically pure cultures of heterotrophic single-celled fungi microorganisms
of the order Thraustochytriales. The harvested whole-cell microbial product can
be added to processed foods as a nutritional supplement, or to fish and animal
feeds to enhance the omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid content of products
produced from these animals. The lipids containing these fatty acids can also be
extracted and used in nutritional, pharmaceutical and industrial applications.