By feeding the microalgae Euglena as feed for prawns
Confirmed research results suggesting improvement in meat quality

Euglena Co., Ltd.
Euglena Taketomi Shrimp Culture Co., Ltd.

　Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo, hereinafter "Euglena") and Euglena Taketomi Shrimp Culture Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, President: Eldest son Nitta, hereinafter "Euglena Taketomi Shrimp Culture" ) Is a joint research with Higashimaru Co., Ltd., which manufactures and sells compound feed for aquaculture Euglena powder (hereinafter referred to as "euglena powder") of Euglena We are pleased to inform you that we have confirmed the research results that suggest that the meat quality of prawns will improve.

Prawn "Midori car shrimp" fed with Euglena

　Euglena is conducting research to utilize the microalgae Euglena, which contains abundant nutrients such as proteins, as feed. In this joint study, juvenile prawns were divided into two groups that were fed a normal diet and a diet in which a part was replaced with Euglena powder, and after feeding each diet for 2 months, they suffered bitterness. We measured the values of free amino acids * 1 involved in the ingredients and fatty acids * 2 involved in the umami ingredients.​
　As a result, it was confirmed that the free amino acids decreased and the fatty acids increased significantly in the prawns fed the diet containing Euglena powder as compared with the prawns fed the normal diet.
　In response to the results of this research, Euglena and Euglena Taketomi shrimp farming began producing prawns fed with Euglena powder from the end of January 2018, and from March 2018. We are planning to start test sales as "Midori Kuruma prawn".
* 1A type of amino acid. A single amino acid that does not bind to proteins.
* 2One of the constituents of lipids.

　The details are as follows.

Research on improving meat quality of prawns

■ Research content
　The juvenile prawns were fed a diet in which a part of the normal diet was Euglena with euglena powder for 2 months, and the contents of free amino acids and fatty acids were compared with the prawns (control) fed the normal diet. bottom. As a result, in Euglena powder, free amino acids (methionine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine), which are bitter components, were reduced compared to controls (Fig. 1), and fatty acids (arachidonic acid), which are umami components, were reduced. It was confirmed that (acid) was significantly increased (Fig. 2).

Figure 1: Changes in free amino acids

Figure 2: Changes in fatty acids

■ Consideration
　It was suggested that feeding Euglena powder as feed may reduce the content of free amino acids in prawns and increase the content of fatty acids.

About test sale of "green prawn"

■ Sales location　　: EPO Co., Ltd. "Green prawn" reservation site: http://poke-epo.jp/
■ Pre-order sales start: December 21, 2017 (Thursday)
■ Delivery start time: Around March 5, 2018 (planned)
■ Selling price　　: Frozen 350g 5,200 yen (excluding tax) / 700g 9,800 yen (excluding tax)
　　　　　　　　Live 500g 9,800 yen (excluding tax)

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Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division