What is organic yeast?
Yeast Basics
Yeast is a unicellular microorganism that has been used in production of various food and drinks for thousands of years. Today yeast is produced industrially for bakers, wine makers and many other applications. Yeast has specific nutrient requirements for growth. It needs a source of sugar and nitrogen as well as vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
What is Organic Yeast?
Organic yeast is grown and processed according to the principles of organic agriculture. The raw materials on which the yeast is grown are derived from organic agriculture. The organic regulation in the EU permits a short list of processing aids (max. 5%) to enable a consistent production and to grow the desired yeast.
While conventional yeast uses ammonia or similar compounds as nitrogen source in organic yeast production the nitrogen source is plant derived. The different plant derived ingredients of the fermentation media provide the yeast with all the nutrients it needs to grow.
Overview of the Nutrition for the Yeast
This is a general overview of fermentation ingredients for yeast production. Depending on the producer different ingredients are used.
| Conventional Production | Organic Production | |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Beet molasses Cane molasses Glucose syrup Saccharose | Organic molasses Organic grain |
| Nitrogen | Ammonia or similar chemicals. | Plant derived (i.e. grain, leguminous plants, …) Yeast Extract |
| Vitamins & Minerals | Syntethic vitamins and minerals added. | Not permitted. |
The Process
Organic Yeast is grown carefully on the complex plant derived media by a natural fermentation process. The organic yeast production is separated from conventional yeast productions.
After the fermentation a liquid called yeast cream is obtained that is the raw material for all yeast products. Organic Yeast is available as fresh cake, active dry powder or inactivated product.