Torula Yeast

The other day Andi was reading a couple of products I had bought at the store and she came across an ingredients she couldn't pronounce. When I looked at it, I realized I had never heard of it either. The word was "Torula Yeast." Torula yeast is an additive that is rich in glutamic acid which lends a smoky, savory, umami flavor to foods. It started replacing MSG years ago when people found out about all the side effects from consuming MSG. Torula yeast grows on wood sugars obtained as a byproduct of the paper manufacturing process, on sugar cane, or on sulfite liquors. Sounds weird to me that I would want to eat wood sugars that end up being a "byproduct of the paper manufacturing process" but so far no side effects have been found. These wood sugars are also used in bee keeping and as a trapping agent for olive flies.

However back to the food. The product I had bought was:

I know, I know I bought pesto. It was on sale and in the long run it was cheaper then making it from scratch. However, I never would have known about Tourla Yeast if I wouldn't have gotten it. I started rummaging through our cupboards to see what else we have that might contain the yeast.

Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice is one of my favorites and sure enough,

 it's in there.

It's also in Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts.

So what's in your cupboard???