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Yeast Infection Kills Doughboy

© Neal Rolfe Chamberlain

One of my friend's, youngest brother's wife's stepsister's husband wrote this amusing little obituary for our beloved Pillsbury's doughboy. A popping fresh friend to many of us here in the United States. After reading the obituary I will tell you what makes the doughboy so popping fresh. Please note this is not a real obituary. Last time I heard the old doughboy was still making a lot of dough.

"Veteran Pillsbury spokesman, The Pillsbury Doughboy, died yesterday of a severe yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes to the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in one of the largest funeral ceremonies in recent years. Dozens of celebrities turned out, including Mrs.Butterworth, the California Raisins, Hungry Jack, Betty Crocker, The Hostess Twinkees, Captain Crunch.

The graveside was piled high with flours as longtime friend, Aunt Jemima, delivered the eulogy. She described the Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded.

Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his life lately was filled with many turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Still, even as a crusty old man, he was a roll model for millions. Doughboy is survived by his second wife, Play Dough. They have two children and one in the oven.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes."

Now why does that dough pop out of the container when you hit it on the edge of your counter? It pops out because of the build up of a gas called carbon dioxide. This gas is produced by a yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yeast cells makes bread dough rise by breaking down the sugar in the bread. When the yeast cells breakdown sugar they get the energy they need to survive and multiply and your bread gets the carbon dioxide to make it rise. Kneading the dough is important because the yeast also need oxygen to live. Kneading the dough creates little air pockets so that the yeast can continue to grow and make gas. When you bake the bread all the yeast are killed by the heat. This particular yeast does not cause infections in humans.

Hope you enjoyed this week's little story and remember next time you make bread to Take Care and Think Microbiologically!

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