Vegan-friendly flavoring
Yeast extract is the perfect ingredient for those looking to expand their vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian diet and is used in a range of foods including dips, spreads, and condiments. Yeast extract can also be used to add flavor to vegetarian and vegan recipes, working well in sauces, soups, salads, and plant-based foods.
Yeast extract can support a low-salt diet, promote healthier flavor profiles, and serve as an excellent source of nutrition for those following plant-based diets as it is 100% animal free.
A meaty, complex flavor
For the flexitarian, yeast extract is a great way to boost the meaty profile of dishes, as it has a similar amino acidic profile as real meat, while helping to limit the amount of meat intake and better meet dietary nutrition recommendations.
For vegan and vegetarian diets, yeast extract is a key ingredient for meat analogs, bringing a rich, umami taste with none of the animal product. Meat analogs are foods that aesthetically resemble the characteristics of certain types of meat. For new vegans and vegetarians who are not quite ready to give up on the idea of a hamburger just yet, it is the perfect ingredient to incorporate into plant-based recipes.
Tasty protein source
Vegetable protein is a common ingredient in meatless products, and, while it is healthy and sustainable, it often has a bland taste, which can put people off a plant-based diet. Yeast extract, however, is packed full of natural plant-based proteins and Vitamin B, while its own distinct flavor can mask the off-flavor notes of vegetable proteins, creating an easy solution for developing delicious, sought-out meat analog products.
A healthier diet
More and more people are seeking out natural, plant-based ingredients and yeast extract helps people move towards a healthier diet and lifestyle. The rich natural flavor is unique to yeast extract and is often considered the fifth taste, called umami. Umami affects the taste buds in a similar way that sweet flavors do, so many people often turn to foods with yeast extract to satisfy their sweet tooth.
Another way yeast extract has proved to be healthier is its ability to balance the flavor profile of low-sodium recipes, making them more palatable and reducing the need to add additional salt for taste.
And finally, with it being an all-natural ingredient consumers can take comfort in knowing they are feeding their family only the best.