Yeast is used in baked goods to refine the dough. Using oxygen, yeasts turn the substances in flour that contain sugar into water and carbohydrates. This makes dough rise. Many alcoholic beverages are made with yeast, especially wheat beer (“Hefeweizen”). Even for crystal-clear varieties, care must be taken that they do not contain any yeast residues. Check with the manufacturer. Yeast is commercially available either in powder form as dry yeast or as fresh/active yeast (“Pressehefe”).
Yeast naturally contains glutamate. For this reason, yeast, in the form of yeast extract, is also used as a flavor enhancer. Yeast, (e.g., as yeast extract), is contained in almost any ready-made food, (e.g. soup packets or deep-frozen pizza).
Vegetarian spreads also contain yeast. In addition, yeast is processed in many types of bread, baked goods, snacks, soups, sauces and broths, etc.
These foods may contain yeast due to their production process or in their natural state:
- Bread and baked goods: bread, crispbreads, cake, raised bake goods, pretzels, baking mixes, cookies and “Zwieback”
- Specialty foods: mayonnaise, chocolate, commercial salad dressings, ready-made foods, especially for vegetarians (e.g. spreads, soups, etc.)
- Others: mushrooms, horseradish, vinegar, preserves, pepperoni, spices, aromas, pickled cucumbers & tomato sauces
- Beverages: fruit juices, fermented fruit, wine, beer, malt beer and sparkling wine
- Dairy products: buttermilk, kefir and cheese
Alternatives: Sourdough, baking powder or yeast culture for baking (health food shops)
Note: We suggest examining the list of ingredients of these foods very carefully! This list is only a selection; as a rule you should pay attention to all food labels.
Our tip
Bread is often made using yeast. Nevertheless, if you have a type III food hypersensitivity, you do not have to give up eating bread completely (this depends however on your reaction to different types of grain and to gluten). Many bakeries, especially specialised bakeries, as well as health food shops, sell yeast-free bread.