Nutritional yeast is a dietary supplement made from a single-celled organism, saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is grown on molasses and then harvested, washed, and dried to kill or deactivate it.
Since it is inactive, it does not foam or rises like baking yeast, so it does not have the ability to ferment. Do not worry; no animals are harmed in this process because yeasts are members of the fungal family, not animals.
The name of nutritional yeast is so bad that someone started calling it nooch and the name was hidden in the corners of the Internet.
Nutritional yeast is not like brewer's yeast, which is a by-product of the brewing process and is very bitter. It is also not Torula yeast, which is grown on waste from the paper mill and is not very tasty.
And please do not try to replace active dry yeast or baking yeast, which tastes bad and will likely make a very big, frothy mess because your yeast is alive.
You probably will not find nutritional yeast in a typical grocery store. There are some resources like https://extracell.eu.com/products where you can get them and learn more about their uses and benefits.
As you might guess from its name, nutritional yeast is packed with nutrients, especially B vitamins, folate, selenium, zinc, and protein. It's low-fat, gluten-free (check specific brands for certification), and contains no added sugars or preservatives.
Because vitamin B12 disappears from plant foods unless added as a supplement, B12-containing dietary yeast is often the only nutrient in a vegan diet (although I highly recommend taking a supplement.
This is the only way to make sure you're getting enough.)
Not all nutritional yeast contains B12, so check the label carefully before purchasing and be aware that there are concerns about folic acid, which is often added to B12. Vitamins and minerals are great, but honestly, most people use dietary yeast for the taste it gives.
Nutritional yeast flakes can be sprinkled over food for its savoury, cheesy, or nutty flavour and this is a great alternative for vegans that do not wish to lose out on the taste but also do not want to use animal products for that.
Nutritional yeast is also used as a substitute for MSG in many foods and as we know MSG can be harmful but gives a good taste. So, you can still get that flavour without risking your health.
Also, nutritional yeast can be truly nutritional if it is fortified in nature. So, if you also need that punch of nutrition along with the taste that it is known for, fortified nutritional yeast is the way to go.
When it comes to innovative food solutions, nutritional yeast is certainly on the list. Today’s consumer is really health conscious and loves to make healthier choices. With so much information at their disposal, food manufacturers need healthier ways to make their food taste great, and nutritional yeast can help with just that.