Yeast extract is a flavor-enhancing additive that many food manufacturers use in place of MSG. The problem is that yeast extract is a hidden source of MSG (monosodium glutamate), according to my sources (see below).
MSG, you may know, is classified as an excitotoxin by Dr. Russell Blaylock, who is a doctor, author, and expert on chemicals that damage the nervous system. MSG is well known to cause migraine headaches, seizures, and other nervous system disorders. Dr. Blaylock's research also shows that MSG damages the endocrine system and causes obesity due to impaired appetite control regulation (causes you to be unable to stop eating).
Doctors and authors who are warning people about yeast extract include Dr. Gary Null, Dr. Julian Whitaker, Dr. George R. Schwartz, Phyllis Balch, Dr. Alexander Mauskop and even the Life Extension Foundation (sources cited below).
Yeast extract is also used in so-called "natural" veggie burger products sold in grocery stores and health food stores. In fact, yeast extract is the No. 1 flavor additive of choice for food manufacturers who don't want to list MSG on their labels. Don't trust the labels that say "all natural" on the front. Read the ingredients and look for yeast extract.
TruthInLabeling.org lists yeast extract as an ingredient that always contains MSG: http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html
Learn the truth about yeast extract and other offensive food additives at Webseed: http://www.webseed.com/yeast_extract.html
Because of this, it is my personal opinion that the Frito-Lay company is engaged in deceptive marketing practices by promoting a product as "natural" that admittedly contains yeast extract.
Baby food manufacturers voluntarily removed MSG from their products decades ago after realizing just how damaging MSG is to the brains of infants and young children. So why is Frito-Lay still selling regular Doritos with MSG, and now "Natural" Doritos with yeast extract?
I believe the answer may be because Frito-Lay wants to jump on the "natural" bandwagon with a product that, in my opinion, isn't natural at all. Yeast extract is a manufactured, concentrated ingredient. Calling yeast extract natural is like calling crack cocaine natural because it comes from the coca plant.
DO NOT eat any grocery product containing MSG or yeast extract, and especially avoid allowing children of any age to consume these products. Protecting the health of the brains and nervous systems of our children is extremely important.
Another current way food processors are adding glutamate to their products is in the form of autolyzed yeast (sometimes called yeast extract). This substance is less expensive than hydrolyzed protein and has been advertised as a replacement for MSG and hydrolyzed protein. Its MSG content is usually 10% to 20% MSG, but may occasionally be higher. In one chemical company's brochure promoting the use of autolyzed yeast, it was emphasized that when using this substance in meat and poultry products, it can be labeled either as "natural flavoring" or "flavoring."
George R Schwartz MD, In Bad Taste the Msg Syndrome
Health Press , 1998
The use of MSG has increased dramatically over the years and has spread to soups, sauces, and salad dressings in restaurants; many canned, frozen, and prepared foods found in local supermarkets; and even cheese, ice cream, cookies, and candy. One form of MSG is autolyzed yeast, which can appear on food product labels as "yeast extract." Other sources of "hidden" MSG include hydrolyzed milk proteins, which may be labeled "sodium caseinate," "calcium caseinate," or "casein."
Phyllis A Balch, Prescription For Dietary Wellness
Penguin Books, 2003
MSG may be hidden in calcium and sodium caseinate, gelatin, flavors, seasonings, autolyzed yeast extract, and modified food starch, textured and hydrolyzed proteins, hidden in over 40 food additives.
Joseph B. Marion, Anti-Aging Manual
Information Pioneers, 1999
Cheese, smoked fish, yogurt, and yeast extracts contain an ingredient known as tyramine, which has been known to increase susceptibility to migraines. Sodium nitrate, common in cold cuts and frankfurters, is yet another cause.
Gary Null, The Complete Encyclopedia Of Natural Healing: A comprehensive A-Z listing of common and chronic illnesses and their proven natural treatments
Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2001
Most processed foods contain excitotoxins, especially any type of commercial taste or flavor enhancer, such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein; soy protein extract; yeast extract; beef stock; commercial soups, sauces, and gravies; caseinate; and aspartame. These excitotoxins may simply be labeled as "natural" flavorings. All processed foods should be avoided by persons with Parkinson's disease.
Life Extension Foundation, Disease Prevention And Treatment
Life Extension Media, 2003
MSG reactions are often misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures. A pet could end up on medication for the rest of his or her life because the veterinarian diagnosed the problem based on the symptoms. If your pet is experiencing seizures there are a couple of things you might do. First, if you are feeding commercial foods, check the label to see if it contains textured protein, yeast extract, hydrolyzed protein, glutamic acid, gelatin, or sodium or calcium caseinate. These substances always contain MSG. Other ingredients that often contain MSG include whey protein, soy protein, soy sauce, carrageenan or vegetable gum, anything fermented, chicken, beef or pork smoke flavorings.
Ann N Martin, Food Pets Die For: Shocking Facts About Pet Food
NewSage Press, 2003
MSG is very frequently disguised with such names as sodium caseinate, hydrolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and autolyzed yeast. Some of the other names used to disguise MSG are textured protein, hydrolyzed protein, yeast food, calcium caseinate, natural chicken or turkey flavoring, yeast extract, hydrolyzed yeast, natural flavoring, and other spices.
Joe M Elrod, Reversing Fibromyalgia
Woodland Publishing, 1997
Here are some of the common "masks" for MSG: Hydrolyzed protein, Sodium caseinate, yeast extract, Yeast nutrient, Autolyzed yeast, Texturized protein, Calcium caseinate.
Alexander Mauskop MD FAAN, The Headache Alternative
Dell Publishing, 1997
According to neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, M.D., author of Excitotoxins, the Taste That Kills, excess glutamate literally excites neurons to death—they run out of energy, degenerate, and die. People who are especially sensitive to MSG have reactions every time they eat it. However, in large enough doses, MSG is neurotoxic to everyone, and it is especially detrimental to young, developing brains. Read food labels carefully. MSG is particularly well disguised and is present in a number of additives, including hydrolyzed vegetable protein, yeast extract, seasonings, natural flavorings, stock, broth, and bouillon.
Dr Julian Whitaker, The Memory Solution
AVERY PUBLISHING GROUP, 1999
Often MSG is difficult to avoid, as it also occurs in hydrolyzed vegetable protein, textured vegetable protein, gelatin, yeast extracts, calcium and sodium caseinate, vegetable broth, whey, smoke flavoring, malt extracts, and several other food ingredients—without appearing on the label.
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC, Editor-in-Chief, The Natural Pharmacy
Prima Health, 1999
The best known example is MSG (monosodium glutamate). High blood levels can cross the normally protective blood-brain barrier and can cause brain cells to die. Excitatory amino acids cause problems, mainly when they are used either in high concentrations or in free form. In most natural foods, they are slowly released and therefore harmless. Most processed foods contain excitotoxins, notably any kind of commercial taste or flavor enhancers, such as caseinate, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, soy protein extract, yeast extract, or beef stock. These may be labeled as natural flavoring and are especially prevalent in soups, sauces, and gravies.
Walter Last, The Natural Way to Heal: 65 Ways to Create Superior Health
Hampton Roads Publishing Company , 2004
Even though MSG is usually found in packaged (and therefore, labeled) foods, its presence isn't always obvious. Watch for the words "hydrolyzed protein," "autolyzed yeast," "sodium ca-seinate," "yeast extract," "hydrolized oat flour," "texturized protein," or "calcium caseinate"—words that food manufacturers use to quietly announce the presence of MSG without spelling it out. Foods Containing MSG
Alexander Mauskop MD and Barry Fox PhD, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines
Warner Books, 2001