Nutritional Yeast Flakes are a non-dairy cheese substitute and seasoning derived from a mixture of cane and beet molasses — no artificial additives or chemicals are used at any step of the manufacturing process. This is a primary grown nutritional yeast from pure strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiæ, cultivated on a beet molasses substrate. The yeast is deactivated through a process of harvesting, washing, pasteurizing and drying with heat. Unlike baking varieties, this yeast doesn’t act as a leavening agent. Instead, it adds texture or a pungent, nutty taste to recipes and snacks.