I have a question

[guineapigluver1]

Is their really animal rennet in cheese? My mom says that their isn't, and I don't know what to believe.

[alerz]

Here's a useful link: Rennet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Apparently, it depends on the type of cheese. Some cheese makers (mostly traditional ones) use animal rennet, but there are some artificial rennets and also vegetable-derived rennets. This definitely changes my outlook on cheese, which is honestly one of my favorite foods. I'm a vegetarian and a very big reason why I felt it would be too difficult for me to switch over to veganism is because of cheese.

[guineapigluver1]

Yeah, thats basically why I am not vegan because of cheese. Do they list the ingredients on the back of the cheese package?

[alerz]

Originally Posted by guineapigluver1

Yeah, thats basically why I am not vegan because of cheese. Do they list the ingredients on the back of the cheese package?

I believe they do. I'm not sure whether they specify the type of rennet used, though. I'm going to have to look into this myself.

[guineapigluver1]

Okay, I don't know if my mom would buy vegetarian cheese just for me, though. This is so hard! I can't wait until I don't have to worry about this!

[thalestral]

Usually a cheese will specify in the ingredients if it is vegetarian. If it just lists "rennet" then it is usually animal based.

Young baby cows are killed for the rennet which is found in one of their stomachs. Often it is a by product of the veal industry.

[PhoenixFeather]

Generally, yes. But if you find a cheese that is kosher, it will not contain animal-based rennet, so that's one thing you could look for. Many (maybe all?) Cabot cheeses are kosher and their ingredients list has "enzymes" listed instead of "rennet". After the ingredients they state "Contains no animal rennet".

Looking for Kosher cheeses may be easier, depending on where you live, than looking for "vegetarian" cheeses, though they are equivalent for your purposes.

[thalestral]

If it states no animal rennet that's fine but kosher cheeses can have animal rennet in them just the same - rennet from an animal killed according to halal/kosher laws.

[wickedrodent]

I use Sargento Brand. They are supposed to be vegetarian. I consulted a few sources (websites) that all seemed to agree on that.

[guineapigluver1]

Okay, I looked at the back of the cheese and it didn't say rennet, it said "enzymes", I was just about to ask what that was. I should have asked my mom to get vegetarian cheese today, since we were grocery shopping today.

[Pumpkin_RIP]

wait, I'm a little confused. So if it says, 'enzymes', that is o.k? or is that bad also?

[ArtisticRainey]

I would imagine that all cheese is made from animal rennet unless it's otherwise stated.

Also, interesting -- after several minutes exhaustive (hah) research, I've found out that one of the by-products of cheese-making is whey powder. So look out for whey powder in any foods you buy -- they're not vegetarian (unless they state that they're made from vegetarian whey powder). It's commonly used in ready meals and processed food. Something I'll be watching out for now, anyway...

[Pumpkin_RIP]

what is whey powder????

[gpigluver14]

Whey or milk plasma is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained; it is a by-product of the manufacture of cheese or casein and has several commercial uses.

It is vegetarian, but not vegan. It's simply the watery-milky liquid left over after butter is made from milk.

[Luvthempigs]

Originally Posted by gpigluver14

It is vegetarian, but not vegan. It's simply the watery-milky liquid left over after butter is made from milk.

That's buttermilk. Whey is the leftover liquid from cheese.

[i-love-nev]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_RIP

wait, I'm a little confused. So if it says, 'enzymes', that is o.k? or is that bad also?

I would also like to know.

[gpigluver14]

This site lists vegetarian cheese types and brands:

Welcome to the Vegetarian Cheese List Home Page


Also, whey is the liquid that sets on top of yogurt when it's first opened and the watery stuff in cottage cheese.

wait, I'm a little confused. So if it says, 'enzymes', that is o.k? or is that bad also?

"Enzymes are proteins added to foods as modifiers. They can be animal, vegetable, bacterial, or fungal. Those used in cheese-making are often animal- derived, others are used in breadmaking and are often fungal. Examples of enzymes are: lactase (fungal), lipase (animal, fungal), papain (vegetable), pectinase (fruit), protease (animal, vegetable, bacterial, or fungal), rennet (animal), and trypsin (animal)."

[Pumpkin_RIP]

oh, gross. Ok thank you.

[juniormylove]

I seem to be the only who doesn't know this..but what is rennet?

[PhoenixFeather]

Originally Posted by thalestral

If it states no animal rennet that's fine but kosher cheeses can have animal rennet in them just the same - rennet from an animal killed according to halal/kosher laws.

This is not true for Kosher cheese -- using rennet from a kosher animal with milk would still render the cheese unkosher due to the prohibition on mixing milk and meat.

See for example Kosher foods - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia