Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
Other names: brewer's yeast, baker's yeast
Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, commonly known as brewer's or baker's yeast, is a unicellular yeast used in the production of several traditional foods and beverages. This yeast is so widespread and valuable mainly because of its fermentation ability, which allows the conversion of sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This process is essential in the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine or spirits. The carbon dioxide released during fermentation causes the dough to rise, which is used in baking.
However, the yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae also has other uses. For example, they are used in the food industry to produce yeast extracts, which are an important ingredient in many foods. Their nutritional and health properties also make them a component of some food supplements. In biotechnology, they are used to produce bioethanol and in genetics they are used as a model organism for the study of cellular processes. Other products where these yeasts can be found include soy sauce, cheese, yoghurt, kefir and sauerkraut. Saccharomyces Cerevisiae is thus one of the most important and widespread yeasts used by humans.