From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash

Can Babies Eat Nutritional Yeast? Yes

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast with a savory, cheesy flavor, often fortified with B12. Sprinkle a little over food from around 6 months.

When to introduce

Around 6 months

Common allergen?

No (not a top-9 allergen)

Texture

Flakes or powder sprinkled over food

Key nutrients

B vitamins (often fortified with B12), protein, fiber

Can babies eat nutritional yeast? Yes, a small sprinkle can join your baby's food around 6 months.¹ Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that comes in yellow flakes or powder, with a savory, cheesy, umami flavor. It is a favorite in vegetarian and vegan cooking because it adds a cheesy taste without any dairy, and many brands are fortified with vitamin B12.³ Think of it as an easy flavor and nutrient boost rather than a food on its own. One thing worth knowing: this is not the same as active baking yeast or brewer's yeast.

Prep School: how to prepare nutritional yeast for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

Is nutritional yeast safe? Choking & prep

Nutritional yeast is not a common choking risk, since it is a fine flake or powder that you sprinkle over food rather than a piece your baby chews. It is also not one of the top-9 allergens.² Use it as a sprinkle, not by the spoonful. Many brands add folic acid and niacin, and the daily upper limits for these added forms at ages 1 to 3 are 300 mcg of folic acid and 10 mg of niacin.⁶⁷⁹ One tablespoon of some fortified brands comes close to that folic acid limit and goes past the niacin limit,⁴⁸ while a sprinkle of about a teaspoon or less stays under both. No upper limit has been set for babies under 12 months, partly because they may not handle excess amounts well, so the same light sprinkle applies to them.⁹ Also check that you are using nutritional yeast, not active baking yeast or brewer's yeast, which are different products. If your baby has a diagnosed yeast allergy, ask your pediatrician first. As with any new food, offer it on its own at first so you can watch how your baby does.¹ There is no need to add salt to your baby's portion.⁵

Nutrition

Nutritional yeast brings a little plant protein and fiber, and many brands are fortified with B vitamins, often including vitamin B12,⁴ which is especially helpful for vegetarian and vegan diets where B12 can be harder to get.³ A small sprinkle also adds a savory, umami depth that can make simple purees and vegetables more appealing, without any added salt or dairy. Because the amount a baby eats is tiny, treat it as a flavor and B-vitamin boost on top of a balanced plate rather than a main source of nutrition. Check the label if B12 fortification matters to you, since not every brand is fortified.³

Goes well with

Scrambled eggs · Pasta · Roasted vegetables · Mashed potato · Avocado · Soft polenta

Storage & freezing

Store nutritional yeast in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark spot, or in the fridge to keep it fresh longer. It keeps for months; check the label for a best-by date.

Related reading

• What to feed your baby first →
• How to cut food to prevent choking →
• Signs your baby is ready for solids →
• Baby-led weaning vs. purées →

Common questions

Sources

1. CDC: When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods
2. FDA: Food Allergies (the nine major food allergens)
3. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12 fact sheet
4. USDA FoodData Central (branded product label data): Large flake nutritional yeast, fortified (FDC 2596118), per 1/4 cup (15 g): folic acid 1,076 mcg, niacin 46 mg; per 100 g: protein 53.33 g, fiber 20 g, thiamin 79 mg, vitamin B6 39.33 mg, vitamin B12 117.33 mcg, folic acid 7,173 mcg, niacin 306.7 mg
5. NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
6. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Folate, Health Professional Fact Sheet (upper limit at ages 1 to 3: 300 mcg of folic acid from supplements or fortified foods)
7. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Niacin, Health Professional Fact Sheet (upper limit at ages 1 to 3: 10 mg)
8. USDA FoodData Central (branded product label data): Nutritional yeast, fortified (FDC 2486564), per 2 tbsp (10 g): folic acid 208 mcg, niacin 35 mg
9. National Academies (Institute of Medicine), Dietary Reference Intakes: Applications in Dietary Assessment (2000), Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ages 1 to 3: niacin 10 mg, folate 300 mcg, from supplements and fortified foods; not determinable for infants)

Further reading

• American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
• CDC: Infant and Toddler Nutrition

Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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