Mushrooms · Fungal food product
Mycoprotein
Fusarium venenatum · also called Quorn mycoprotein, fungal protein (not a mushroom)
Mycoprotein is a meat-substitute food made from a fungus, Fusarium venenatum, grown in tanks. It is a mould, not a mushroom. Small short trials found lower cholesterol and less eating at the next meal than with meat or chicken, but many involve the maker, Marlow Foods. Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and vomiting and diarrhoea have been reported, so people with mould allergy should ask a doctor first.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Mycoprotein
Mycoprotein is a food made from the fungus Fusarium venenatum, sold as Quorn and other meat substitutes. It is not a mushroom. Short trials found lower total cholesterol and less eating at the next meal than with meat or chicken, while results for blood sugar were mixed. Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and vomiting and diarrhoea have been reported, although no one knows how often. Much of the research involves the maker.
What it is
Mycoprotein is the heat-treated biomass of the fungus Fusarium venenatum, grown by continuous fermentation in tanks and shaped into foods. The fungus was first called Fusarium graminearum until DNA work in 1998 showed it is F. venenatum. It was found in a garden soil sample in Marlow, England.
It is not a mushroom and not "mycelium on grain" supplements. Quoted figures for the dry food are about 45 g protein and 25 g fibre per 100 g, with one-third of the fibre chitin and two-thirds beta-glucan; these come second-hand from a 2025 report.
How people use it
It is eaten as a meat replacement. There is no traditional use. A 2025 expert report supported by the maker concluded there is no reason to exclude fungal proteins from food-based dietary guidelines and called for long-term studies. A model it quotes found that replacing all meat with mycoprotein raised fibre but lowered protein, iron and vitamin B12 and raised sodium.
What the research shows
A pooled analysis of 9 short trials (178 people, average 13 days) found total cholesterol 0.55 mmol/L lower with mycoprotein, but no clear change in LDL, HDL, triglycerides or blood sugar after meals. A 72-person home trial found total cholesterol 5% and LDL 10% lower after 4 weeks than with meat and fish products.
Single-meal studies found less eaten afterwards than after chicken (10% less in overweight adults at the highest amount). One sponsored study found muscle protein building after exercise was similar to egg, pork, salmon and lentils. No trial measured weight loss, muscle strength, heart attacks or strokes.
Who paid for the research
Marlow Foods, the maker of Quorn, is involved in much of it. Its employees are among the authors of the 72-person cholesterol trial and the muscle study, the muscle study was sponsored by Marlow, a diabetes trial author was funded by Quorn Foods, and the 2025 roundtable report was supported by a Marlow donation. Independent work includes the pooled analysis (funding not shown in its record) and older trials. We flag these links but do not treat them as proof that results are wrong.
Legal and regulatory status
The US FDA inventory lists a notice from Marlow Foods (GRN 91) for use in food in general, except meat products, poultry products and infant formula. FDA closed it on 7 January 2002 with "FDA has no questions". That means FDA did not challenge the maker's own safety conclusion; it is not an approval. A 2023 correspondence document is listed on the page but we did not open it. The EFSA 2011 opinion on cholesterol and fullness claims and a consumer group report could not be read, so we do not state their conclusions. Rules differ by country and change.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- No traditional use: it is a modern food. The 2025 roundtable report says the fungus was found in a garden soil sample at Marlow, England, and developed as a food.
- Sold as Quorn in 17 countries including the United States, according to a 2019 review aligned with the producer.
Studied for research
- Cholesterol when it replaces meat, low
- Fullness and eating at the next meal, low
- Muscle protein building after exercise, low
- Blood sugar and insulin after a meal, very low (mixed)
- Blood pressure and waist, very low
- Allergic and stomach reactions, reported in self-reports and case reports (a risk)
Main compounds
- Protein (about 45 g per 100 g dry weight, quoted second-hand)
- Fibre: one-third chitin, two-thirds beta-glucan (quoted second-hand)
Common forms
- Meat-substitute foods (mince, pieces, burgers, nuggets)
- Fungal protein ingredient in other foods
- No supplement form was assessed
Research links: FDA GRAS notice GRN 91 (inventory page) · Cholesterol trial, 72 adults (abstract) · Meta-analysis of 9 trials (abstract) · Self-reported reactions survey (abstract) · Confirmed allergy case report (abstract) · Species reidentification (abstract) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Fusarium venenatum
- Naming authority
- Nirenberg (GBIF)
- Synonyms
- Fusarium graminearum (the Quorn fungus was called this until 1998; DNA work showed it is F. venenatum)
- Common names
- Mycoprotein (English); Quorn mycoprotein (English); Fungal protein (English)
- Family or group
- Nectriaceae (a mould family), not a mushroom family
- Classification
- Fungi > Ascomycota > Sordariomycetes > Hypocreales > Nectriaceae > Fusarium > Fusarium venenatum
- Native range
- Not checked.
- Habitat
- The 2025 roundtable report says the organism was found in a garden soil sample in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, from over 3,000 global soil samples.
- Cultivation
- Grown by continuous aerobic fermentation in tanks (air-lift), with carbohydrate and ammonia as feedstock, at 28 to 30 C and pH 6.0, then heat-treated (Haigh 2026 methods, as read). The fungal biomass is turned into foods.
- Harvest and processing
- Heat-treated biomass shaped into meat-substitute foods. Further detail not read.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Mushroom mycelium supplements ("mycelium on grain"); Note: Different: those are mushroom mycelium grown on grain and sold as powders. Mycoprotein is a fermenter-grown mould biomass eaten as food.
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Late 20th century, England | The fungus was found in a garden soil sample at Marlow and developed as a food. It was first identified as Fusarium graminearum and reidentified as F. venenatum in 1998. | p40390196 |
| 1998 reidentification | DNA analysis showed the Quorn fungus is F. venenatum, not F. graminearum. | p9501477 |
| 2001 to 2002, United States | Marlow Foods filed GRAS notice GRN 91 on 3 Dec 2001; FDA closed it on 7 Jan 2002 with "no questions". | s-fda-grn91 |
| Today | Sold as Quorn in 17 countries including the US, according to a 2019 producer-aligned review. | p31187084 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | macronutrient | Fungal biomass About 45 g per 100 g dry weight (roundtable report, second-hand). | Provides all essential amino acids (as described in the sources read). 5 | Composition secondary |
| Fibre: chitin and beta-glucan | polysaccharide | Fungal cell wall About 25 g per 100 g dry weight; one-third chitin and two-thirds beta-glucan (roundtable report, quoting Denny 2008). | May affect fullness and cholesterol; hypothesis only. 5 | Hypothesis |
| Type A trichothecenes (mycotoxins) | mycotoxin | Strain grown on rice (lab) Low levels in a Quorn strain on rice; none detected in three commercial products (1998). | Toxins some Fusarium species can make. 14 | Lab study |
| RNA and nucleotides | nucleic acids | Fungal biomass Not found in an open source we read. | A review links a nucleotide-rich meal to a rise in uric acid; not re-checked. 4 | Review secondary |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gut hormones (PYY, GLP-1) | PYY, GLP-1 | A roundtable report suggests that fermented fibre releases short-chain fatty acids that release these hormones. A 2016 trial measured them and found no difference after mycoprotein. 5 1 | Human null |
| Cholesterol handling | not studied | Fibre, lower saturated fat from replacing meat, or both. Trials cannot separate these. 5 16 | Hypothesis |
| Mould allergen cross-reactivity | Fus c 1 (60S acidic ribosomal protein P2) | IgE from one allergic patient bound this protein, which is shared with other moulds; about 35% of sera from Fusarium culmorum-sensitised people reacted to it. 11 | Human lab |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not found in the sources read.
- Distribution
- Not found.
- Metabolism
- Not found.
- Elimination
- Not found.
- Bioavailability
- Not established.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Results come from whole mycoprotein foods eaten in place of meat. Nothing here applies to capsules, powders or other fungal protein products.
Nutritional composition
It is a food. The roundtable report quotes about 45 g protein and 25 g fibre per 100 g dry weight (second-hand), and a model that found less iron and vitamin B12 and more sodium when meat is fully replaced.
3 low certainty2 very low certainty1 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 6 benefits and uses checked for Mycoprotein, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Cholesterol (when it replaces meat)Low certainty
- Fullness and eating at the next mealLow certainty
- Muscle protein building after exerciseLow certainty
- Blood sugar and insulin after a mealVery low certainty
- Blood pressure and waist sizeVery low certainty
- What changes in the diet when it replaces meatNot enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
Total cholesterolLDL ("bad") cholesterolEnergy eaten at the next mealMuscle protein synthesis rateBlood glucose rise after a mealInsulin after a mealWaist circumference
What is Mycoprotein good for?
The uses people ask about and how strong the human evidence is for each. None is proven, and the first four come from short trials where mycoprotein replaced meat. Read this together with the Safety tab.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Cholesterol (when it replaces meat)
Low certaintyIn several small trials, swapping meat or fish for mycoprotein foods lowered total cholesterol, and in some trials LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The biggest recent home-based trial found a 5% fall in total cholesterol over 4 weeks.
5 studiesMycoprotein meat-substitute foods (Quorn-type products) eaten in plac…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A meta-analysis of 9 short trials (178 people) found total cholesterol 0.55 mmol/L lower, with no clear change in LDL, HDL or triglycerides. Individual trials found LDL falls of 9 to 12% (3 weeks to 4 weeks). A 72-person home trial found total cholesterol 5% lower and LDL 10% lower after 4 weeks.
Results
Meta-analysis: total cholesterol -0.55 mmol/L (95% CI -0.85 to -0.26). Pavis 2024: total -5%, LDL -10%. Farsi 2023: total -6.74%, LDL -12.3% (20 men, 2 weeks). Turnbull 1990: total -13% (3 weeks). Coelho 2021: 14 to 19% falls (20 adults, 1 week).
Effect sizes as reported
Modest, short-term falls in cholesterol compared with a meat diet
Why this rating
All trials are small and short (days to 4 weeks), the meta-analysis found no clear LDL effect, the comparison is with meat so it may reflect eating less meat, and the larger recent trials involve the producer, Marlow Foods.
Form and dose studied
Mycoprotein meat-substitute foods (Quorn-type products) eaten in place of meat or fish. No amounts are advised here.
Who was studied
Healthy adults, men, and overweight adults with raised cholesterol
Limits
No long-term trial and no heart-attack or stroke outcome. Effects are compared with meat, not with other plant proteins. Several trials are producer-linked.
Why researchers looked
Mycoprotein is high in fibre and low in saturated fat, and it was developed as a meat replacement, so researchers compared it with meat.
Traditional use
Mycoprotein is a modern food (developed in the 20th century), so there is no traditional use.
Proposed mechanism Hypothesis
The fibre (one-third chitin, two-thirds beta-glucan) may reduce cholesterol uptake, and replacing meat lowers saturated fat intake. A roundtable report says this fibre mechanism and the effect of the swap cannot be separated.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Allergy and stomach reactions are reported by some people; see the Safety tab.
Fullness and eating at the next meal
Low certaintySmall studies found people ate less at a later meal after mycoprotein than after chicken. One trial in overweight adults found about 10% less eaten at a meal 3 hours later.
3 studiesTest meals made with mycoprotein compared with chicken meals.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 1993 trial in women found 24% lower energy intake on the test day and 16.5% lower the next day than after chicken. A 2016 trial in 55 overweight or obese adults found 10% lower intake at the high amount (P = 0.009). A 2006 trial in 42 overweight women found less eaten shortly after, with no catch-up at dinner.
Results
Turnbull 1993: -24% and -16.5%. Bottin 2016: -10% (67 kcal) at the high amount. Williamson 2006: lower intake than chicken; same as tofu.
Effect sizes as reported
Small, single-meal reductions in food eaten
Why this rating
Single-meal laboratory studies in small groups; no study shows weight loss over weeks or months; the largest effect is from a 1993 trial that did not give its head-count in the abstract. A 2025 trial in people with type 2 diabetes found no effect on appetite scores.
Form and dose studied
Test meals made with mycoprotein compared with chicken meals.
Who was studied
Lean and overweight adults; women
Limits
No long-term weight outcome. Compared with chicken, not with other plant proteins (except tofu in one trial).
Why researchers looked
Fibre and protein can make food more filling, so researchers tested whether mycoprotein helps people eat less.
Proposed mechanism Hypothesis
The fibre may slow eating and release gut hormones. In one trial the gut hormones PYY and GLP-1 did not change, so this explanation was not supported.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Eating more fibre quickly can cause bloating in some people.
Muscle protein building after exercise
Low certaintyIn one study, mycoprotein raised the rate of muscle protein building after leg exercise about as much as egg, pork, salmon or lentils.
1 studiesA mycoprotein meal providing 0.25 g protein per kg body mass.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
In 65 resistance-trained young adults, muscle protein synthesis rose in every group. Mycoprotein increased by 0.041% per hour versus 0.050 for egg whites and 0.008 for pork; the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.077).
Results
Haigh 2026: change in muscle protein synthesis (% per hour): mycoprotein 0.041, egg whites 0.050, egg 0.051, salmon 0.021, lentils 0.029, pork 0.008 (P = 0.077). Whole-body net balance was greater with egg whites (256.6) than mycoprotein (189.7).
Effect sizes as reported
Similar to other protein foods in one session
Why this rating
One sponsored study, 11 people per food, one exercise session; it measures a short-term process, not muscle size or strength.
Form and dose studied
A mycoprotein meal providing 0.25 g protein per kg body mass.
Who was studied
Healthy, resistance-trained young adults
Limits
No training-over-weeks study read; older adults not covered here; producer-sponsored.
Why researchers looked
Many people are replacing meat and want to know if non-animal proteins still support muscle.
Proposed mechanism Hypothesis
Mycoprotein contains all essential amino acids, according to the sources read for this entry.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific beyond the allergy and stomach reports.
Blood sugar and insulin after a meal
Very low certaintyResults are mixed. A small trial in 18 people with type 2 diabetes found a lower blood sugar rise after one mycoprotein meal than after chicken. A pooled analysis of five trials found no lower blood sugar after meals, only a small early insulin drop.
3 studiesTest meals with mycoprotein, sometimes with guar gum.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
In 18 people with type 2 diabetes, mycoprotein lowered the post-meal glucose rise versus chicken (difference -129.84; 95% CI -203.16 to -56.51; p = 0.002). A 1-week trial in 20 healthy adults found no change in insulin sensitivity or 24-hour glucose. The pooled analysis found no reduction in post-meal glucose at 30 to 120 minutes and 76.51 pmol/L lower insulin at 30 minutes only.
Results
Cherta-Murillo 2025: glucose rise lower than chicken (p = 0.002). Coelho 2021: no change in insulin sensitivity. Shahid 2023: no glucose reduction; insulin -76.51 pmol/L at 30 min.
Effect sizes as reported
Small and inconsistent
Why this rating
Tiny trials, single meals or one week, mixed results, and the diabetes trial has producer-linked authors. No HbA1c (long-term sugar control) result was read.
Form and dose studied
Test meals with mycoprotein, sometimes with guar gum.
Who was studied
Healthy adults; people with type 2 diabetes
Limits
Not a treatment for diabetes. People who take diabetes medicines should ask their doctor before changing their diet.
Why researchers looked
The fibre may slow sugar absorption, so researchers tested single meals and one week of eating it.
Proposed mechanism Hypothesis
The fibre may slow how fast sugars reach the blood. This is a hypothesis, not shown in the trials read.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Changing diet while on glucose-lowering medicines can change how much medicine is needed.
Blood pressure and waist size
Very low certaintyIn 20 healthy men, a 2-week swap from red and processed meat to mycoprotein gave a slightly smaller waist. Blood pressure moved down a little but not by a statistically significant amount.
1 studiesMycoprotein in place of red and processed meat.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
Waist was 0.95 +/- 0.42 cm smaller than with meat (P = 0.04). Systolic pressure fell 2.41 +/- 1.89 mmHg (P = 0.23) and diastolic 0.80 +/- 1.23 mmHg (P = 0.43), neither significant.
Results
Farsi 2023: waist -0.95 cm (P = 0.04); BP not significant.
Effect sizes as reported
Waist: under 1 cm; blood pressure: no significant change
Why this rating
Secondary outcomes from a 20-person, 2-week crossover trial partly funded by the producer.
Form and dose studied
Mycoprotein in place of red and processed meat.
Who was studied
Healthy men
Limits
Far too small to say anything about weight loss or blood pressure.
Why researchers looked
A secondary check in the same trial as the cholesterol results.
Proposed mechanism Unknown
Not studied in the trial. Potassium in urine was higher with mycoprotein than with meat.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
What changes in the diet when it replaces meat
Not enough evidenceMycoprotein is a high-protein, high-fibre food. A modelling study quoted by a 2025 roundtable report found that replacing all meat with it raised fibre but lowered protein, iron and vitamin B12 and raised sodium.
1 studiesWhole-diet substitution in a model.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
The report quotes a modelling study (Farsi 2022, not opened here): fully replacing meat cut total fat by 6 g/day and raised fibre by 8 g/day, but lowered protein by 9 g/day, iron by 1 mg/day and vitamin B12 by 1.5 micrograms/day and raised sodium by 312 mg/day.
Results
Second-hand figures from a modelling study, not a trial.
Effect sizes as reported
Diet changes in a model, not health outcomes
Why this rating
The figures are second-hand, from a model, and from an industry-supported report. They are not a health result.
Form and dose studied
Whole-diet substitution in a model.
Who was studied
Modelled diets
Limits
The primary study was not opened. No direct measures of iron or B12 status in people were read.
Why researchers looked
People using it as a meat swap want to know what they gain and lose.
Proposed mechanism Composition
Composition quoted by the roundtable report: about 45 g protein and 25 g fibre per 100 g dry weight; one-third of the fibre is chitin and two-thirds beta-glucan.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
People who rely on it as their main protein source should keep an eye on iron and vitamin B12 (ask a doctor or dietitian).
Connections to the rest of health
How Mycoprotein connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholesterol Balance | Preliminary mechanism | Low certainty | Cholesterol (when it replaces meat): In several small trials, swapping meat or fish for mycoprotein foods lowered total cholesterol, and in some trials LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The biggest recent home-based trial found a 5% fall in total cholesterol over 4 weeks. | 16 15 7 17 3 |
| Heart Health | Preliminary mechanism | Low certainty | Cholesterol (when it replaces meat): In several small trials, swapping meat or fish for mycoprotein foods lowered total cholesterol, and in some trials LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The biggest recent home-based trial found a 5% fall in total cholesterol over 4 weeks. | 16 15 7 17 3 |
| Weight Management | Potential benefit | Low certainty | Fullness and eating at the next meal: Small studies found people ate less at a later meal after mycoprotein than after chicken. One trial in overweight adults found about 10% less eaten at a meal 3 hours later. | 18 1 21 |
| Muscle Recovery | Preliminary mechanism | Low certainty | Muscle protein building after exercise: In one study, mycoprotein raised the rate of muscle protein building after leg exercise about as much as egg, pork, salmon or lentils. | 10 |
| Blood Sugar Balance | Preliminary mechanism | Very low certainty | Blood sugar and insulin after a meal: Results are mixed. A small trial in 18 people with type 2 diabetes found a lower blood sugar rise after one mycoprotein meal than after chicken. A pooled analysis of five trials found no lower blood sugar after meals, only a small early insulin drop. | 2 3 16 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digestive system | Adverse effect or risk | Very low certainty | Self-reported vomiting and diarrhoea. Preparation or compound: Mycoprotein (Quorn-type) |
12 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Cholesterol (when it replaces meat) Studied for: Blood pressure and waist size | 16 15 7 17 3 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Fullness and eating at the next meal Studied for: What changes in the diet when it replaces meat | 18 1 21 5 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food allergy | Adverse effect or risk | Low certainty | One confirmed case with food challenge; large self-reported survey; frequency unknown. Preparation or compound: Mycoprotein (Quorn-type) |
11 12 |
| Anaphylaxis | Adverse effect or risk | Very low certainty | Self-reported in a survey, one fatal; cause not proven. Preparation or compound: Mycoprotein (Quorn-type) |
12 |
| Mould allergy | Contraindication | Low certainty | Case reports in mould-allergic patients; shared protein with other moulds. Preparation or compound: Mycoprotein (Quorn-type) |
11 13 20 |
| High cholesterol | Biological association | Low certainty | Modest short-term falls in total cholesterol in small trials; several producer-linked. Preparation or compound: Mycoprotein foods replacing meat |
16 15 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 16 15 |
| LDL ("bad") cholesterol | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 15 7 16 |
| Energy eaten at the next meal | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 1 |
| Muscle protein synthesis rate | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 10 |
| Blood glucose rise after a meal | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 2 16 |
| Insulin after a meal | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 16 |
| Waist circumference | Biological association | Very low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 7 |
K. Biological pathways
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fus c 1 (60S acidic ribosomal protein P2) | Preliminary mechanism | Human lab | IgE-binding mould protein identified in a mycoprotein allergy case. | 11 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | Biological association | Composition secondary | Provides all essential amino acids (as described in the sources read). Preparation or compound: Fungal biomass |
5 |
| Fibre: chitin and beta-glucan | Biological association | Hypothesis | May affect fullness and cholesterol; hypothesis only. Preparation or compound: Fungal cell wall |
5 |
| Type A trichothecenes (mycotoxins) | Biological association | Lab study | Toxins some Fusarium species can make. Preparation or compound: Strain grown on rice (lab) |
14 |
| RNA and nucleotides | Biological association | Review secondary | A review links a nucleotide-rich meal to a rise in uric acid; not re-checked. Preparation or compound: Fungal biomass |
4 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
The evidence
The research centre for Mycoprotein. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read PubMed records and abstracts for 18 papers (one meta-analysis, eight trials, one survey, case reports, reviews, a taxonomy study), two as titles only (case letters with no abstract), the FDA GRAS notice inventory page, and a 2025 roundtable report in full. Names were checked in GBIF. EFSA, the maker and a consumer group were not read. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading.
Study library: every study we checked 21
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottin 2016 Mycoprotein reduces energy intake and postprandial insulin release without altering glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide tyrosine-tyrosine concentrations in healthy overweight and obese adults: a randomised-controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition · PMID 27198187 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
55 55 overweight or obese adults (two trials; 36 in the eating test) |
Test meals with low (44 g), medium (88 g) or high (132 g) mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Meal amounts as stated Single meals · vs Isoenergetic chicken meals |
At the high amount mycoprotein cut energy intake by 10% (280 kJ, 67 kcal) compared with chicken (P = 0.009). All mycoprotein meals lowered insulin response (-8%, -12% and -21%; P = 0.004). No significant difference in glucose, PYY, GLP-1, stomach emptying or energy expenditure. About 10% less eaten at the next meal, and a lower insulin response, compared with chicken Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Food eaten at a buffet 3 hours later, appetite scores, insulin, glucose, gut hormones Limitations: Single meals, small groups; effect on body weight over time not tested; the gut-hormone explanation was not supported. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the PubMed record. Read: abstract |
| Cherta-Murillo 2025 Investigating the effects of mycoprotein and guar gum on postprandial glucose in type 2 diabetes: a double-blind randomised controlled trial. Nutrition & Diabetes · PMID 40410155 · DOI |
Rct crossover |
18 18 people with type 2 diabetes (10 white European, 8 south Asian) |
Mycoprotein meal, with or without guar gum fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Meal amounts not shown here Six single-meal visits · vs Soy or chicken meals |
Mycoprotein lowered the post-meal glucose rise compared with chicken by 129.84 (95% CI -203.16 to -56.51; p = 0.002). Guar gum also lowered it. No effects on appetite-related outcomes. Lower blood glucose rise after one meal than with chicken in 18 people with type 2 diabetes (Difference -129.84 (-203.16 to -56.51)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood glucose rise after the meal (iAUC), insulin, appetite, later eating Limitations: Single meals, 18 people; no long-term blood sugar (HbA1c) outcome; the 2023 meta-analysis found no glucose reduction. Funding and conflicts: Industry-linked: the first author was funded by Quorn Foods Ltd at the time of the trial, and another author has given consultant advice to Quorn Foods; Quorn Foods said it was not involved in analysis or interpretation. Read: abstract; competing-interest statement from the PubMed record |
| Coelho 2021 Daily mycoprotein consumption for 1 week does not affect insulin sensitivity or glycaemic control but modulates the plasma lipidome in healthy adults: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition · PMID 32660657 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
20 20 healthy adults |
Mycoprotein as the main protein at lunch and dinner fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Not shown here 7 days, fully controlled diet · vs Meat or fish at lunch and dinner |
No changes within or between groups in blood glucose, insulin, insulin sensitivity or 24-hour glucose. Of 224 metabolic measures, 171 did not differ between groups. Forty-five lipid measures were unchanged in controls but fell 7 to 27% (all P < 0.05) with mycoprotein. Total cholesterol, free cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol, DHA and omega-3 fatty acids fell 14 to 19% with mycoprotein versus 3 to 11% with control (P < 0.05). Cholesterol-carrying fats fell; blood sugar control unchanged; omega-3 measures also fell Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Insulin sensitivity, 24-hour glucose, blood lipoproteins (metabolomics) Limitations: Only 20 healthy people for 1 week. Omega-3 measures (DHA) also fell with mycoprotein; the abstract does not say why. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the PubMed record. Finnigan is a Marlow Foods-linked author on other trials here, and Wall discloses Quorn research funding in a 2025 report. Read: abstract |
| Derbyshire 2022 Fungal-Derived Mycoprotein and Health across the Lifespan: A Narrative Review. Journal of Fungi · PMID 35887410 · DOI |
Narrative review |
15 key publications across life stages | Mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) |
The author found 15 key publications and says mycoprotein could contribute to improved lipid profiles, glycaemic markers, fibre intake, satiety and muscle protein synthesis, and that more research is needed at both ends of the lifespan. Positive narrative summary Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Lipids, glycaemic markers, fibre intake, satiety, muscle protein synthesis Limitations: Narrative review, not a systematic search. Marlow Foods reviewed the paper (no role in writing, per the record). Funding and conflicts: Industry-linked: Marlow Foods reviewed the paper. Read: abstract |
| Derbyshire 2025 Is There a Specific Role for Fungal Protein Within Food Based Dietary Guidelines? A Roundtable Discussion. Nutrition Bulletin · PMID 40390196 · DOI |
Expert roundtable |
11 11 experts from academia, policy and industry |
Fungal protein including mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) |
The panel agreed there was no reason to exclude fungal proteins from food-based dietary guidelines and that long-term population studies are needed. The full text says mycoprotein has about 45 g protein and 25 g fibre per 100 g dry weight, with one-third of the fibre chitin and two-thirds beta-glucan, and that fully replacing meat with mycoprotein lowered total fat and raised fibre but lowered protein (9 g/day), iron (1 mg/day) and vitamin B12 (1.5 micrograms/day) and raised sodium (312 mg/day) in a modelling study the report cites (Farsi 2022, not opened). It records that the organism was found in a garden soil sample in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and was first misidentified as Fusarium graminearum. Expert opinion; the nutrition figures are second-hand Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Place of fungal protein in dietary guidelines Limitations: Opinion report, not a study; figures are quoted from earlier papers. Funding and conflicts: Industry-linked: supported by a donation from Marlow Foods Ltd to the Nutrition Society; Marlow employees shaped the programme; several panellists declare Quorn funding or honoraria. Read: abstract and full text (via Europe PMC) |
| EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products 2011 Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to mycoprotein and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 1619) and increase in satiety leading to a reduction in energy intake (ID 1620) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA Journal · PMID 42078743 · DOI |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
Health-claim assessment | Mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) |
The record confirms EFSA assessed two health claims about mycoprotein (LDL cholesterol, ID 1619; satiety and lower energy intake, ID 1620) in 2011. The conclusion could not be read (publisher blocked access), so it is not stated. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Health claims on LDL cholesterol and satiety Limitations: Conclusion not read. Funding and conflicts: EU regulator. Read: title only |
| Farsi 2023 The effects of substituting red and processed meat for mycoprotein on biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in healthy volunteers: an analysis of secondary endpoints from Mycomeat. European Journal of Nutrition · PMID 37624376 · DOI |
Rct crossover |
20 20 metabolically healthy men |
Mycoprotein in place of red and processed meat fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) 240 g/day of meat in the comparison diet; mycoprotein amount not shown here 14 days per diet (crossover) · vs Red and processed meat |
Mycoprotein led to a 6.74% fall in total cholesterol (P = 0.02) and 12.3% fall in LDL cholesterol (P = 0.02) from baseline. Triglycerides did not differ significantly (+0.19 +/- 0.11 mmol/L, P = 0.09). Waist was 0.95 +/- 0.42 cm smaller than with meat (P = 0.04). Systolic pressure fell 2.41 +/- 1.89 mmHg (P = 0.23) and diastolic 0.80 +/- 1.23 mmHg (P = 0.43) from baseline, neither significant. Cardiovascular risk score changed little (-0.34%, P = 0.24). Lower cholesterol and slightly smaller waist than on red and processed meat in healthy men; blood pressure change not significant (See results (SE given)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Secondary endpoints: blood fats, waist, blood pressure, urine markers Limitations: Only 20 healthy men and 2 weeks; these were secondary (not main) outcomes; compared with red and processed meat, not with other plant proteins. Funding and conflicts: Industry-linked: part-funded by Marlow Foods Ltd; one author is a Marlow Foods consultant who helped with study blinding. Registered NCT03944421. Registration: NCT03944421 Read: abstract |
| Finnigan 2019 Mycoprotein: The Future of Nutritious Nonmeat Protein, a Symposium Review. Current Developments in Nutrition · PMID 31187084 · DOI |
Narrative review |
Narrative symposium review | Mycoprotein (Quorn) fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) |
The review says mycoprotein is high in protein and fibre and low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar, and sold in 17 countries. It says some susceptible consumers may become sensitised and develop a specific allergy, but that a systematic evidence review indicates incidence of allergic reactions remains exceptionally low. It calls for long-term clinical research. Producer-aligned overview: allergy described as very rare Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Overview of nutrition, health, allergy Limitations: Narrative review; the allergy claim rests on a review the abstract does not name; the record does not state funding, but the first author has produced producer-linked trials (Marlow Foods). Funding and conflicts: Funding not shown; first author Finnigan is listed as a Marlow Foods employee in a 2024 paper read for this entry. Read: abstract |
| GBIF 2026 GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Fusarium venenatum Nirenberg GBIF species match API (checked 2026-10-25) · Source |
Taxonomy record fungus |
n/a | n/a fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) |
Accepted species (key 5252107): kingdom Fungi, phylum Ascomycota, class Sordariomycetes, order Hypocreales, family Nectriaceae. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted name and classification Limitations: Index Fungorum was not checked. Funding and conflicts: Public database. Read: API record |
| Haigh 2026 Ingestion of diverse protein-rich whole-foods result in similar post exercise whole body and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates compared with a more isolated protein source in young adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · PMID 41643855 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
65 65 healthy, resistance-trained young adults (11 per food group) |
Mycoprotein (one of six foods) fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) 0.25 g protein per kg body mass One session, 300 minutes of measurement · vs Egg whites, whole egg, salmon, pork, lentils |
Muscle protein synthesis rose after exercise and food in all groups with no clear differences between groups. Change in synthesis rate (% per hour): egg whites 0.050, egg 0.051, pork 0.008, salmon 0.021, lentils 0.029, mycoprotein 0.041 (P = 0.077). Net whole-body protein balance was greater with egg whites (256.6) than mycoprotein (189.7). Mycoprotein stimulated muscle protein synthesis about as much as the other foods tested in one session Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Whole-body protein turnover and muscle (myofibrillar) protein synthesis after leg exercise Limitations: Only 11 people per food, one session; measures a short-term process, not muscle size or strength; young trained adults only. Funding and conflicts: Industry-linked: sponsored by Marlow Foods Ltd; Marlow Foods supplied the product and employed two authors at the time of the design. Registered NCT04794153. Registration: NCT04794153 Read: abstract; funding and conflict statement read in full text via Europe PMC |
| Hoff 2003 Immediate-type hypersensitivity reaction to ingestion of mycoprotein (Quorn) in a patient allergic to molds caused by acidic ribosomal protein P2. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology · PMID 12743577 · DOI |
Case report |
1 One asthmatic patient with severe reactions to mycoprotein and sensitisation to many mould and other airborne allergens |
Quorn mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Not shown here Food challenge · vs Placebo |
Food allergy to mycoprotein was assessed by a double-blinded placebo-controlled food challenge. IgE from the patient identified a protein (Fus c 1, a 60S acidic ribosomal protein P2) in a related Fusarium mould. About 35% of sera from people sensitised to Fusarium culmorum reacted to the protein. The authors conclude that sensitisation to mould by breathing, followed by eating a cross-reacting protein, may lead to severe food allergy. Confirmed IgE-type allergy to mycoprotein in a mould-allergic patient, with a likely shared mould protein Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Food allergy to mycoprotein by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge; the allergen Limitations: One patient; the abstract does not give the challenge result in words; how common this is cannot be told. Funding and conflicts: Research support from a non-US government source is listed; no industry funding stated in the record. Read: abstract |
| Jacobson 2018 Self-reported adverse reactions associated with mycoprotein (Quorn-brand) containing foods. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology · PMID 29567357 · DOI |
Self report survey |
1752 1,752 adverse reactions reported on a web-based complaints questionnaire (quorncomplaints.org) |
Quorn-brand foods containing mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Reports of single or repeated meals |
Allergic reactions, including hives and anaphylaxis, occurred within 4 hours in 312 people; 45.8% began within 1 hour and 1 was fatal. Of those 312, 188 (60.3%) reported repeat reactions after eating Quorn again. Stomach symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea occurred within 8 hours in 1,692 people; 66.6% began 46 to 180 minutes after eating. Symptoms ranged from mild nausea to vomiting needing medical attention. Many self-reported allergic and stomach reactions; the survey cannot show how common they are Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Type, timing and frequency of allergic and stomach reactions Limitations: Self-selected complaints from a website, not checked by a doctor, no count of how many people eat the product, so no rate can be worked out; cause not proven. The abstract is written as a call for reconsideration of the ingredient; the authors' organisation was not read in the record. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the PubMed record. The questionnaire site is named quorncomplaints.org; the authors' affiliations were not read. Read: abstract |
| Katona 2002 Sensitivity to Quorn mycoprotein (Fusarium venenatum) in a mould allergic patient. Journal of Clinical Pathology · PMID 12401831 · DOI |
Case report letter |
1 One mould-allergic patient |
Quorn mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Not shown here Not shown here · vs Not shown here |
Only the title and record details were read; the record has no abstract, so no result is stated here. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Not read Limitations: Title-only source: nothing beyond the title is relied on. Funding and conflicts: Not stated. Read: title only |
| O'Donnell 1998 Molecular phylogenetic, morphological, and mycotoxin data support reidentification of the Quorn mycoprotein fungus as Fusarium venenatum. Fungal Genetics and Biology · PMID 9501477 · DOI |
Lab taxonomy fungus |
Quorn strains and three commercial Quorn products | Quorn fungus strains fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) |
DNA analysis showed the Quorn fungus is Fusarium venenatum, not F. graminearum as previously reported. Rice cultures of Quorn strain NRRL 25416 produced four type A trichothecenes at low levels compared with another F. venenatum strain. No trichothecene mycotoxins were detected in three commercial Quorn products sold in England. Correct species F. venenatum; no mycotoxins found in three 1990s-era products Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Species identity; trichothecene mycotoxins Limitations: Three products tested in the 1990s; says nothing about today's production or other brands. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the record. Read: abstract |
| Pavis 2024 A four-week dietary intervention with mycoprotein-containing food products reduces serum cholesterol concentrations in community-dwelling, overweight adults: A randomised controlled trial. Clinical Nutrition · PMID 38306892 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
72 72 overweight adults with cholesterol above 5.0 mmol/L, living at home |
Mycoprotein-containing food products (Quorn-type) delivered to the home fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Not shown here 4 weeks · vs Meat and fish products |
Total cholesterol was unchanged with meat/fish and fell 5 +/- 2% with mycoprotein (5.4 to 5.1 mmol/L; P < 0.05). LDL cholesterol fell 10 +/- 3% and non-HDL 6 +/- 2% (both by 0.3 mmol/L). HDL and triglycerides did not change. After the 4 weeks the mycoprotein group had lower blood glucose (3.7 versus 4.3 mmol/L) and C-peptide than the control group. Modest fall in total and LDL cholesterol when mycoprotein replaced meat and fish for 4 weeks (Not given in the abstract (mean +/- SE)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Serum cholesterol fractions, glucose, C-peptide (fingertip blood sent by post) Limitations: Short, 4 weeks; the abstract does not say whether anyone was blinded; finger-prick blood samples were posted by participants; swaps meat for mycoprotein so the effect cannot be separated from eating less meat; the abstract does not say how many people finished. Funding and conflicts: Industry-linked: the author list includes three Marlow Foods employees (Roper, Theobald, Finnigan); Marlow Foods is the maker of Quorn. Registered NCT04773483. Registration: NCT04773483 Read: abstract |
| Shahid 2023 The effect of mycoprotein intake on biomarkers of human health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · PMID 37407163 · DOI |
Meta-analysis |
178 Nine randomised trials, 178 people, mean follow-up 13 days |
Mycoprotein versus non-mycoprotein control fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Varied Mean 13 days · vs Non-mycoprotein diets |
Total cholesterol was 0.55 mmol/L lower with mycoprotein (95% CI -0.85 to -0.26; P < 0.001). No clear effects on HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol or triglycerides (all P > 0.05). No reduction in blood glucose after a meal at 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes. Insulin was 76.51 pmol/L lower at 30 minutes (95% CI -150.75 to -2.28; P = 0.043) and not different later. The authors conclude evidence is limited by small trials and short follow-up. Lower total cholesterol; no clear change in LDL, HDL, triglycerides or blood glucose; small early insulin drop (Total cholesterol -0.55 mmol/L (-0.85 to -0.26)) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Blood lipids, blood glucose, insulin, blood pressure, body weight Limitations: Only 9 small, short trials (4 on blood fats, 5 on glucose or insulin). The abstract does not say how many trials had producer links; funding is not stated in the record. Funding and conflicts: Funding and competing interests not shown in the PubMed record (one author, Finnigan, is also an author on producer-linked trials). Registration: PROSPERO CRD42022308980 Read: abstract |
| Turnbull 1990 Effect of mycoprotein on blood lipids. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · PMID 2169701 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
Adults with slightly raised cholesterol (the abstract gives no head-count; a 2025 roundtable report says 17 adults) | Mycoprotein (then called Fusarium graminearum) in place of meat fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Not shown here 3 weeks · vs Meat diet |
No change in plasma cholesterol in the control group and a 13% reduction in the mycoprotein group. LDL rose 12% in the control group and fell 9% with mycoprotein. HDL fell 11% in controls and rose 12% with mycoprotein. Early small trial: lower cholesterol with mycoprotein replacing meat Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Plasma cholesterol, LDL, HDL Limitations: Very old, small, 3 weeks; the fungus is named Fusarium graminearum, later corrected to F. venenatum; later larger work found smaller falls; funding not stated in the record. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract (the abstract lists government research support only). Read: abstract |
| Turnbull 1993 Acute effects of mycoprotein on subsequent energy intake and appetite variables. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · PMID 8257542 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
Women who were not restrained eaters (number not in the abstract) | Mycoprotein meal (then called Fusarium graminearum) fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Not shown here One test meal, 3-day periods · vs Isoenergetic chicken meal |
Energy intake was 24% lower on the day of the meal and 16.5% lower the next day after mycoprotein than after chicken. Three hours after the meal, prospective food consumption and desire to eat were lower. Less eating after a mycoprotein meal than after chicken Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Energy intake on the test day and next day; hunger scales Limitations: Very old, small, number not in the abstract; one meal; funding not stated. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| US Food and Drug Administration 2002 FDA GRAS Notice GRN 000091: Mycoprotein (notifier Marlow Foods Ltd.) FDA GRAS Notice Inventory · Source |
Authoritative guidance n/a |
n/a | Mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) |
FDA inventory page: intended use is food in general, excluding meat products, poultry products and infant formula; basis scientific procedures; notifier Marlow Foods Ltd.; filed 3 Dec 2001; closed 7 Jan 2002 with the entry "FDA has no questions". An "additional correspondence" document dated 28 Sep 2023 is listed but was not opened. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Regulatory status in the United States Limitations: A "no questions" letter means FDA did not challenge the company's own safety conclusion; it is not an FDA approval. The 2023 correspondence was not read. Funding and conflicts: Independent public body; the notice itself was submitted by Marlow Foods. Read: full text of the inventory page |
| Van Durme 2003 Allergy to ingested mycoprotein in a patient with mold spore inhalant allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology · PMID 12897757 · DOI |
Case report letter |
1 One patient with mould-spore inhalant allergy |
Mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Not shown here Not shown here · vs Not shown here |
Only the title and record details were read; the record has no abstract, so no result is stated here. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Not read Limitations: Title-only source: nothing beyond the title is relied on. Funding and conflicts: Non-US government research support listed in the record. Read: title only |
| Williamson 2006 Effects of consuming mycoprotein, tofu or chicken upon subsequent eating behaviour, hunger and safety. Appetite · PMID 16364496 · DOI |
Rct crossover |
42 42 overweight women |
Pasta preload containing mycoprotein fungal biomass (mycelium grown in a fermenter) Not shown here Three lab test days · vs Tofu or chicken preload |
Mycoprotein and tofu preloads were linked to lower food intake shortly afterwards than chicken. Intake did not differ between mycoprotein and tofu. People did not eat more at dinner to make up for it. Less eaten at the next meal than after chicken; no extra eating later in the day Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Food eaten at lunch and dinner, hunger and fullness scores Limitations: Laboratory meals in 42 women; no long-term weight outcome; funding not stated in the abstract. The abstract also mentions a safety aim but reports no safety result. Funding and conflicts: Funding not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
What we do not know yet
- No count of reactions against the number of people eating it, so allergy and stomach upset rates are unknown.
- Trials are small and last days to 4 weeks; none measured weight, strength, heart attacks or strokes.
- Much of the research involves the producer.
- No study in pregnancy, breastfeeding or children, and no drug interaction study, was read.
- The EFSA 2011 conclusion and consumer group statements could not be read.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any evidence rating or safety wording. New publications never change ratings automatically.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Metabolic 2
Total cholesterol
Lowered in trials
The total amount of cholesterol carried in the blood.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A common stand-in for heart-disease risk.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Statistically significant but small and short-term; several trials are producer-linked.
Safety implication
Does not replace cholesterol treatment from a doctor.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Mean 0.55 mmol/L lower (95% CI -0.85 to -0.26; P < 0.001) in 9 short trials. | 178 people across 9 trials | Mycoprotein versus non-mycoprotein diets |
| 15 | Fell 5 +/- 2% (5.4 to 5.1 mmol/L; P < 0.05) with mycoprotein; no change with meat/fish. | 72 overweight adults with raised cholesterol | Mycoprotein foods versus meat/fish for 4 weeks |
LDL ("bad") cholesterol
Lowered in trials
The cholesterol carried in low-density particles; high levels are linked to clogged arteries.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A main target in heart-disease prevention.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Mixed: individual trials show falls, the pooled analysis does not.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Fell 10 +/- 3% (by 0.3 mmol/L; P < 0.05) with mycoprotein. | 72 overweight adults | Mycoprotein foods versus meat/fish, 4 weeks |
| 7 | Fell 12.3% from baseline (P = 0.02) versus red and processed meat. | 20 healthy men | Mycoprotein in place of red and processed meat, 14 days |
| 16 | No clear effect on LDL across the pooled trials (P > 0.05). | 178 people across 9 trials | Mycoprotein versus controls |
Other 5
Energy eaten at the next meal
Lowered in trials
How much food energy people ate in a buffet or later meal after a test meal.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A way to measure fullness in studies.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Small, single-meal effect.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intake 10% lower (280 kJ, 67 kcal) after the high-mycoprotein meal than chicken (P = 0.009). | 36 overweight or obese adults in the eating test | Mycoprotein meal versus chicken, one meal |
Muscle protein synthesis rate
Raised in trials
How fast the body builds new muscle protein, measured with labelled amino acids after exercise.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A short-term stand-in for muscle building.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Similar to the other foods.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Rose 0.041% per hour with mycoprotein; no clear difference between six foods (P = 0.077). | 65 resistance-trained young adults | Mycoprotein versus egg, egg white, salmon, pork, lentils, one session |
Blood glucose rise after a meal
Mixed results in trials
How high and for how long blood sugar goes up after eating.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
A short-term measure of how a meal affects blood sugar.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Conflicting results.
Safety implication
Ask your doctor if you use diabetes medicines.
Insulin after a meal
Lowered in trials
The insulin released by the body after eating.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Lower insulin for the same meal can mean the body copes more easily.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Borderline and early only.
Safety implication
None specific.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 76.51 pmol/L lower at 30 minutes (95% CI -150.75 to -2.28; P = 0.043), no effect at 60 to 120 minutes. | 5 trials | Mycoprotein versus controls |
Waist circumference
Lowered in trials
The distance around the waist.
Very low certaintyResults and what it means
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 4
- Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported. Mycoprotein is made from a mould (Fusarium venenatum), not a mushroom. A case report with a double-blind food challenge confirmed an allergy to it in a mould-allergic asthmatic patient, linked to a protein shared with other moulds. A survey of 1,752 self-reported reactions on a complaints website described 312 allergic reactions (hives, anaphylaxis), one fatal. A survey cannot tell how common reactions are or prove the food caused them. Case report 11 12
- Stomach upsets are widely self-reported. The same survey recorded 1,692 reports of vomiting and diarrhoea, mostly 46 to 180 minutes after eating, from mild nausea to vomiting severe enough to need medical attention. The survey cannot show how often this happens among all people who eat the food. Self report 12
- The producer-aligned view is that allergy is very rare. A 2019 symposium review says some susceptible people may become sensitised, but that a systematic review indicates allergic reactions remain exceptionally low. We could not see that systematic review. Treat both views as unresolved: no study counts reactions against the number of people eating it. Mixed 8 12
- People with mould allergy or past reactions should be careful. Two further case letters describe allergy to mycoprotein in patients with mould allergy (we read the titles only). If you have a mould allergy or have reacted to a meat substitute before, ask an allergy doctor before trying it. Case report 13 20 11
Side effects 5
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hives and other allergic reactions Self-selected complaints, not confirmed by doctors. | 312 of 1,752 self-reported reactions; real frequency unknown | mild to severe Not described | Self report 12 |
| Anaphylaxis Cause of the death was not established in the abstract. | Included in the 312 allergic reports, one fatal; frequency unknown | severe One death reported | Self report 12 |
| Vomiting and diarrhoea Most began 46 to 180 minutes after eating. | 1,692 self-reports; no rate | mild to moderate; some needed medical attention Not described | Self report 12 |
| Food allergy confirmed by challenge A patient allergic to moulds and with asthma. | One patient in one case report | severe (as described) Not described | Case report 11 |
| No side effects stated in the trials read Trial abstracts report no adverse-effect results; absence in an abstract is not proof of safety. | Not reported in the abstracts | n/a n/a | Trial absence 15 16 |
Liver
No liver safety signal was found in the sources read. No liver injury report linked to mycoprotein was seen.
How often. Not assessed beyond the sources read.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Mycoprotein supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 2
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes medicines (for example insulin or tablets) prescription | A small trial found a lower post-meal glucose rise after mycoprotein in people with type 2 diabetes (single meals). | Unknown. Any food change can alter how much medicine is needed. No study tested mycoprotein with diabetes medicines. | Inference Not enough evidence 2 | If you take diabetes medicines, mention big diet changes to your prescriber or pharmacist. |
| Other prescription medicines, supplements and alcohol general | No drug interaction was found in the sources read. | No interaction reports were seen. This is absence of evidence, not proof of safety. | None found Not enough evidence | Ask a pharmacist if you take medicines and are changing your diet a lot. |
Who should check first 4
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Known mould allergy, mould-triggered asthma, or a previous reaction to Quorn-type foods | Ask an allergy doctor before eating it; reactions including anaphylaxis have been reported. | Case report 11 13 20 12 |
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | No study or regulator statement on mycoprotein in pregnancy or breastfeeding was read. This does not show it is unsafe; ask a doctor or midwife. | No data |
| Young children and infants | No study in children was read here. The FDA notice excludes infant formula from its intended use. Ask a paediatrician. | Authoritative guidance 19 |
| Gout or high uric acid | One review says a nucleotide-rich meal raised uric acid in a small crossover study, but we did not open that study and no gout outcome was read. Ask a doctor if you have gout. | Review secondary 4 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. Acute poisoning has not been described in the sources read. The main concerns are allergy and stomach upset.
Animal. Not reviewed for this entry.
Human doses studied. Trials used mycoprotein foods for hours to 4 weeks. This entry gives no amounts and none are advised.
High dose or long term signals. Long-term safety in trials is unknown; the longest trial read was 4 weeks.
Genotoxicity. Not read.
Mycoprotein is a processed food, made in tanks, so wild-mushroom look-alike and field contamination issues do not apply. Fusarium species can make mycotoxins, so product testing matters.
Mycotoxins. A 1998 study found no trichothecene mycotoxins in three commercial Quorn products sold in England, although a Quorn strain grown on rice made low levels of four type A trichothecenes. Only three products, from the 1990s, were tested. 14
Not a mushroom. It is the biomass of a mould (Fusarium venenatum). Mushroom fruiting-body supplements and "mycelium on grain" supplements are different products. 9 5
Other brands and ingredients. Results are for Quorn-type mycoprotein. We did not read any test of other fungal protein products.
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| US Food and Drug Administration (GRAS notice inventory) (United States) | GRN 91 (Marlow Foods): intended use is food in general, excluding meat products, poultry products and infant formula. FDA closed the notice on 7 Jan 2002 with the entry "FDA has no questions". This is not an FDA approval; it means FDA did not challenge the company's own safety conclusion. source | 2002-01-07 |
When to get medical help
- Swelling of the lips, face or throat, wheeze, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat or faintness soon after eating it: call emergency services (possible anaphylaxis).
- Hives or itching all over after eating it: stop eating it and get medical advice.
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea with dehydration, blood in vomit or stool, or severe belly pain: get medical help.
- If you have had a reaction before, do not try again without advice from an allergy doctor.
If someone may be poisoned or in a crisis, contact a clinician or emergency service straight away. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is mycoprotein?
Is mycoprotein a mushroom?
Is mycoprotein safe?
Most people eat it without problems in the trials read, but allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and vomiting and diarrhoea have been reported. The numbers come mostly from self-reports, so the real rate is unknown. FDA closed a safety notice from the maker with no questions in 2002, which is not an approval.
Can mycoprotein cause an allergic reaction?
Yes, in some people. A case report confirmed an allergy by a food challenge in a patient with mould allergy and asthma. A survey on a complaints website recorded 312 allergic reactions, one fatal. A survey cannot prove the food was the cause or how common this is. A 2019 review from authors linked to the producer says reactions are exceptionally rare.
Who should avoid mycoprotein?
Does mycoprotein lower cholesterol?
Does mycoprotein help with weight loss?
Is mycoprotein good for muscle?
One sponsored study found muscle protein building after exercise was similar to egg, pork, salmon and lentils. It measured a short-term process in 11 people per food, not muscle size or strength.
Does mycoprotein help blood sugar or diabetes?
Does it interact with medicines?
No interaction reports were found in the sources we read. That is not proof of safety. A big diet change can affect diabetes medicines, so tell your prescriber or pharmacist.
Who paid for the research?
Much of it involves Marlow Foods, the maker of Quorn: employees are authors on the 72-person cholesterol trial and the muscle study, the diabetes trial author was funded by Quorn Foods, and a 2025 roundtable report was supported by a Marlow donation. Independent work includes the pooled analysis (funding not shown) and some older trials. We flag industry links where we know them.
What does the FDA say about mycoprotein?
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We read PubMed records and abstracts for 18 papers (one meta-analysis, eight trials, one survey, case reports, reviews, a taxonomy study), two as titles only (case letters with no abstract), the FDA GRAS notice inventory page, and a 2025 roundtable report in full. Names were checked in GBIF. EFSA, the maker and a consumer group were not read. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown. This page is information, not a recommendation to eat or avoid mycoprotein.
Sources 21
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Bottin JH, Swann JR, Cropp E, et al. Mycoprotein reduces energy intake and postprandial insulin release without altering glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide tyrosine-tyrosine concentrations in healthy overweight and obese adults: a randomised-controlled trial.. British Journal of Nutrition. 2016. PMID 27198187. DOI 10.1017/S0007114516001872. (abstract)
- Cherta-Murillo A, Zhou K, Tashkova M, et al. Investigating the effects of mycoprotein and guar gum on postprandial glucose in type 2 diabetes: a double-blind randomised controlled trial.. Nutrition & Diabetes. 2025. PMID 40410155. DOI 10.1038/s41387-025-00375-w. (abstract; competing-interest statement from the PubMed record)
- Coelho MOC, Monteyne AJ, Dirks ML, et al. Daily mycoprotein consumption for 1 week does not affect insulin sensitivity or glycaemic control but modulates the plasma lipidome in healthy adults: a randomised controlled trial.. British Journal of Nutrition. 2021. PMID 32660657. DOI 10.1017/S0007114520002524. (abstract)
- Derbyshire E. Fungal-Derived Mycoprotein and Health across the Lifespan: A Narrative Review.. Journal of Fungi. 2022. PMID 35887410. DOI 10.3390/jof8070653. (abstract)
- Derbyshire EJ, Brameld JM, Wall BT, et al. Is There a Specific Role for Fungal Protein Within Food Based Dietary Guidelines? A Roundtable Discussion.. Nutrition Bulletin. 2025. PMID 40390196. DOI 10.1111/nbu.70011. (abstract and full text (via Europe PMC))
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to mycoprotein and maintenance of normal blood LDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 1619) and increase in satiety leading to a reduction in energy intake (ID 1620) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.. EFSA Journal. 2011. PMID 42078743. DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2042. (title only)
- Farsi DN, Gallegos JL, Finnigan TJA, et al. The effects of substituting red and processed meat for mycoprotein on biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in healthy volunteers: an analysis of secondary endpoints from Mycomeat.. European Journal of Nutrition. 2023. PMID 37624376. DOI 10.1007/s00394-023-03238-1. (abstract)
- Finnigan TJA, Wall BT, Wilde PJ, et al. Mycoprotein: The Future of Nutritious Nonmeat Protein, a Symposium Review.. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2019. PMID 31187084. DOI 10.1093/cdn/nzz021. (abstract)
- GBIF. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Fusarium venenatum Nirenberg. GBIF species match API (checked 2026-10-25). 2026. (API record)
- Haigh FA, Monteyne AJ, Abdelrahman DR, et al. Ingestion of diverse protein-rich whole-foods result in similar post exercise whole body and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates compared with a more isolated protein source in young adults.. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2026. PMID 41643855. DOI 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101231. (abstract; funding and conflict statement read in full text via Europe PMC)
- Hoff M, Trueb RM, Ballmer-Weber BK, et al. Immediate-type hypersensitivity reaction to ingestion of mycoprotein (Quorn) in a patient allergic to molds caused by acidic ribosomal protein P2.. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2003. PMID 12743577. DOI 10.1067/mai.2003.1339. (abstract)
- Jacobson MF, DePorter J. Self-reported adverse reactions associated with mycoprotein (Quorn-brand) containing foods.. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2018. PMID 29567357. DOI 10.1016/j.anai.2018.03.020. (abstract)
- Katona SJ, Kaminski ER. Sensitivity to Quorn mycoprotein (Fusarium venenatum) in a mould allergic patient.. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2002. PMID 12401831. DOI 10.1136/jcp.55.11.876-a. (title only)
- O'Donnell K, Cigelnik E, Casper HH. Molecular phylogenetic, morphological, and mycotoxin data support reidentification of the Quorn mycoprotein fungus as Fusarium venenatum.. Fungal Genetics and Biology. 1998. PMID 9501477. DOI 10.1006/fgbi.1997.1018. (abstract)
- Pavis GF, Iniesta RR, Roper H, et al. A four-week dietary intervention with mycoprotein-containing food products reduces serum cholesterol concentrations in community-dwelling, overweight adults: A randomised controlled trial.. Clinical Nutrition. 2024. PMID 38306892. DOI 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.01.023. (abstract)
- Shahid M, Gaines A, Coyle D, et al. The effect of mycoprotein intake on biomarkers of human health: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2023. PMID 37407163. DOI 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.03.019. (abstract)
- Turnbull WH, Leeds AR, Edwards GD. Effect of mycoprotein on blood lipids.. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1990. PMID 2169701. DOI 10.1093/ajcn/52.4.646. (abstract)
- Turnbull WH, Walton J, Leeds AR. Acute effects of mycoprotein on subsequent energy intake and appetite variables.. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1993. PMID 8257542. DOI 10.1093/ajcn/58.4.507. (abstract)
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA GRAS Notice GRN 000091: Mycoprotein (notifier Marlow Foods Ltd.). FDA GRAS Notice Inventory. 2002. (full text of the inventory page)
- Van Durme P, Ceuppens JL, Cadot P. Allergy to ingested mycoprotein in a patient with mold spore inhalant allergy.. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2003. PMID 12897757. DOI 10.1067/mai.2003.1613. (title only)
- Williamson DA, Geiselman PJ, Lovejoy J, et al. Effects of consuming mycoprotein, tofu or chicken upon subsequent eating behaviour, hunger and safety.. Appetite. 2006. PMID 16364496. DOI 10.1016/j.appet.2005.10.007. (abstract)
