Is inactive dried yeast vegan?

Inactive dried yeast is a dehydrated, non-living form of single-celled fungus, typically Saccharomyces cerevisiae, that has been killed and dried using heat. It is produced by cultivating yeast cells in a nutrient-rich liquid medium, separating and washing the harvested yeast cream, and pasteurizing it before drying it into powders or flakes. Food processors frequently add it to seasoning mixes, snack foods, soups, sauces, and baked goods to impart umami flavor or adjust product texture.

This ingredient receives a possibly vegan verdict because the growth medium used to propagate the yeast can originate from either plant or animal sources. The label usually does not state which medium was utilized. Plant-derived media commonly consist of sugar beet molasses, cane molasses, or grain extracts. Animal-derived media, on the other hand, can include dairy whey or animal tissue extracts added as nitrogen sources. A third-party vegan certification on the packaging or direct confirmation from the manufacturer is required to verify that the yeast was grown exclusively on animal-free substrates.