Cheese is not Vegetarian

I feel like a fraud. Although I am not Vegetarian (I eat fish but no other meat), I have often written about some of our meals that are strictly plant-based. Turns out I am a liar. A BIG ONE and I am devastated by it.

Many of my “self proclaimed Vegetarian” recipes call for cheese and I just learned that most cheese is NOT Vegetarian. Did you know that? I am not even sure how I discovered this little known fact but once I found it I started doing a lot of research. LOTS and LOTS of research because I just can’t believe it.

There is an item in cheese called “rennet.” Rennet is essentially the inner lining of a calf’s stomach. I am just disgusted. I am even more surprised that this is relatively an unknown fact. With all the research I have done about following a Vegetarian and Vegan diet, I have never some across this.

Upon hearing about this, Chad and I jumped in our car and headed to Whole Foods where they basically have cheese mongers right there in the store. Our local cheese monger explained to us a little more about rennet and we learned that the FDA does not require that the source of the rennet be disclosed on the label. If a label simply states “rennet” in the ingredients list, it is probably safe to assume the cheese is NOT Vegetarian. Also, many times you may also see “enzymes” listed without any sign of rennet. This can also probably be assumed the cheese is not Vegetarian-friendly.

Many cheese manufacturers have begun to eliminate calf rennet which is good to know, but unfortunately, not everyone has. It is very important to check the labels to make sure the rennet is not derived from animals. Usually, if a company does use a plant-based rennet, they are usually happy to display it proudly on the label.

Rennet seems to appear mostly in the more flavorful aged cheeses. Most Parmesan cheese is NOT Vegetarian. It is also widely reported that both Grand Padano and Gorgonzola are also never Vegetarian-friendly.

We were happy to find the labels very clear at Whole Foods. And we were thrilled to have someone in the cheese department who was so knowledgeable. We made a few stops at some other stores on the way home and weren’t so lucky. Most other stores do not employ cheese mongers or even train their staff very well. Some employees were just as shocked as we were. It is just better to educate yourself and read labels.

Also it is good to note that rennet is used in producing cheese. Other dairy products such as yogurt and ice cream are rennet-free. However, it should be also noted that some goods, such as Kraft Macaroni and Cheese are also not Vegetarian. The enzymes used in the cheese powder are derived from animals. Who knew?

Again, what is the big deal since we ourselves are not 100% Vegetarian? The fact that we do avoid chicken, beef, pork and other animals. The fact that the process of how the rennet is taken from young calves and processed is disgusting. I’ll let you read about that one on your own.

So tell me, are you as surprised as I am?

Lisa Hansen

Thursday 31st of August 2023

Yes, I am also equally appalled that this is widespread and very difficult to pin down. Perhaps it’s time to petition for more disclosure from dairy manufactures, just as has been done with hormones and antibiotics.

Thanks for your post on this.

Candace @ Cabot

Monday 27th of February 2017

Hi Anna-Marie: Maybe the title of this blog post should be "Not All Cheese Is Vegetarian." I just wanted to let you know that Cabot Cheddar is NOT made with animal rennet. To explain, I've copied a paragraph from the FAQ section of the Cabot website: "Cabot uses a microbial-based enzyme to manufacture all of our award-winning cheeses with the exception of our Processed American Cheese slices. The microbial-based enzyme coagulates the milk into curds and whey. It is approved for vegetarians and also allows our cheeses to pass kosher certification. Our Processed American Cheese slices are sourced from plants that Cabot does not own, so we cannot guarantee that they are made with microbial enzymes." Thanks for letting me make this clarification.

Anna-Marie

Wednesday 1st of March 2017

True. This post was written before I sat through a presentation by Cabot Cheese at Food and Wine Conference 2016. I will say, however, that your farmers in Vermont found it absurd that I asked them if their cheese was Vegetarian. They laughed and said, of course it's Vegetarian. When is cheese not Vegetarian? So your own farmers did not know. But when I do use cheese, I do always buy the Cabot brand because I know that it is always Vegetarian and I do not have to search on the label.

Jess

Friday 13th of December 2013

omG! I feel cheated! I'm vegetarian, transitioning to a plant based diet, and every now and then would eat cheese. Now I feel so bad! Thanks for sharing. I love finding new useful information to educate myself and educate others who don't understand my decision to move to a plant based diet. Thank you!!!

Anna-Marie Walsh

Thank you for leaving a comment! Ya, I feel so cheated also. It's a shame too because cheese has always been my guilty pleasure. Now we just have to seek out the Vegetarian Rennent versions!

Chad

Saturday 7th of December 2013

Yeah, surprising what has animal parts that you wouldn't expect. Not saying I'll never eat cheese again, but the more I learn about food the less appetizing some of it becomes.