Make your own kefir

Frage

Hello dear Econ team,

I have cystic fibrosis, am 61 years old, and suffer from recurring ABPA attacks.
I would like to make my own kefir using kefir tubers.
Is this possible, or do kefir tubers produce spores that I could inhale?
What precautions should I take?

Thank you very much for answering my question!

Kind regards from S.

Antwort

Dear questioner,

These two issues are unrelated. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity reaction to species of the genus Aspergillus (especially A. fumigatus). Aspergillus species belong to the so-called filamentous (thread-like) fungi or molds, which form spores that occur in the environment and can be easily transmitted (inhaled) through the air. Only rarely and under certain conditions (e.g., in cystic fibrosis) can this lead to infections or ABPA.

The so-called "kefir culture" is something entirely different. It is a symbiotic community of various microorganisms; primarily bacteria, such as lactic acid bacteria (various Lactobacillus spp.), acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacter spp.), and also yeasts, such as Candida kefir. The microorganisms are embedded in a matrix of fats and sugars (e.g., kefir grains). The kefir culture, or rather the yeasts it contains, have nothing in common with the clinical picture of ABPA. Kefir tubers (also called kefir granules) are also unrelated to the fungal spores produced by filamentous fungi.

Sincerely,
Michael Hogardt

12.10.2026