Atisholz launches natural yeast extracts

In a bid to gain new market share and to maximise on the trend towards natural foods, Swiss nutritional yeast company Atisholz announced this week that it is to extend its product line to include yeast extracts based on the torula strain.

The 120-year-old company claims that its customers appreciate the high nutritional content of torula yeast. Its high protein content of 60 per cent is significantly higher than in conventional nutritional yeast, said Atisholz. It contains all essential amino acids and the entire spectrum of B vitamins. It also contains minerals, trace elements and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The company added that while conventional yeasts are grown on molasses, torula yeast (the Candida utilis​ strain) can be cultured on wood sugar.

Sugar used for the yeast cultivation is obtained from the company's own cellulose processing operation. Marcel Domke, R&D manager, said: "We produce everything in-house, from the raw material to the end product. That way we can vouch for constant product quality, and at the same time harness our own resources."​

According to a statement this week, the expansion of Atisholz's yeast operations will carry the company into the world of flavourings. Where nutritional yeast possesses a neutral flavour, yeast extracts can do just the opposite - they intensify flavour, or act themselves as seasonings in food.

Atisholz is launching its natural torula yeast extracts under the Atis-YE brand. The GMO-free yeast extracts are certified kosher and halal.