Is cheese suitable for vegetarians? - Godminster (2024)

FAQs

Is Godminster cheese vegetarian? ›

All of our cheese is made using pasteurised milk and is certified organic by the Soil Association. They contain no artificial preservatives and they are suitable for vegetarians.

Vegetarian cheese is usually made of cow's milk, good bacteria, salt and may also contain other ingredients to add flavour (such as black truffles). A vegetarian diet excludes foods containing an animal itself (such as meat), and cheese can be vegetarian friendly providing it doesn't contain animal rennet.

Many cheeses contain the animal rennet — an enzyme that helps milk separate into curds and whey. That enzyme is typically derived from the stomach of calves killed for veal, so most vegetarians see it as off-limits.

Like many other types of cheese, authentic mozzarella uses animal rennet, a substance obtained from the stomach lining of young animals that have not yet been weaned. Many vegetarians and lactose intolerants cannot consume mozzarella and a variety of other classic European cheeses due to this restriction.

Many people are disappointed to learn that not all cheeses are vegetarian. Some cheeses such as Parmesan, gorgonzola, pecorino romano, camembert, gruyere, and manchego are made using animal rennet. Animal rennet is a set of enzymes produced in the stomachs of unweaned calves and works to curdle the casein in milk.

Like most Italian cheeses, Provolone has simple ingredients but a rich taste. Most versions are pasteurized and gluten free, without any added fillers or preservatives. Traditional Provolone is unsuitable for vegetarians, due to the addition of calf rennet. Be sure to always check the label.

Calf rennet is extracted from the inner mucosa of the fourth stomach chamber (the abomasum) of young, nursing calves as part of livestock butchering. These stomachs are a byproduct of veal production.

Most hard cheeses, including Parmesan, Cheddar, Manchego, Pecorino Romano, and Swiss, are traditionally made with rennet, while some soft cheeses aren't (scroll down for five you can try).

- Ruminant animal's stomach contains an enzyme known as rennet enzymes. This enzyme helps the milk to coagulate and separates into curd and whey. - This is the reason cheese was not considered vegetarian food a long time back.

Rennet is an enzyme that helps coagulate the milk during the cheesemaking process. Since 2016, we have utilized fermentation-produced rennet that has Kosher and Halal certification and is vegetarian. We believe it closely mimics the flavor and quality profiles of a traditional bovine rennet.

Does all Parmesan have rennet? ›

“Calf stomachs are ground and then soaked in an enzyme extraction solution,” which makes the end products not vegetarian by most standards. While all cheeses labeled Parmigiano-Reggiano definitely contain animal-derived rennet, Parmesan can go either way.

The good news is yes. Because although the enzyme that comprises rennet is always animal-based, there are now vegetable-based enzymes—obtained by soaking plants like artichokes or thistles—and microbial-based substitutes, which are made from mold enzymes extracted in a lab.

Soft-style cheeses often use an acid, such as lemon juice, vinegar, or whey. "Many softer styles of cheese like mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, and cream cheese use whey or another type of acid as their coagulant instead of rennet, so they will be safe for vegetarians," says Birnbaum.

Brie is made with rennet and warmed up to 37º Celsius to obtain the curd and most of its flavor. Once the perfect texture is achieved, it's ladled into the round molds where it sits for up to 18 hours. Then, the cheese is carefully salted before it's aged.

Cheeses That Don't Use Rennet

"Many softer styles of cheese like mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, and cream cheese use whey or another type of acid as their coagulant instead of rennet, so they will be safe for vegetarians," says Birnbaum.

Yes, all the ingredients we use are suitable for vegetarians. How is Cathedral City cheese made? Our cheese is made with 100% cow's milk, starter culture, vegetarian rennet and salt. Milk is pasteurised, and the starter culture is added.

Grab an organic, vegetarian-friendly snack on the go with our Stringles® mozzarella string cheese! Each individually packaged serving contains seven grams of organic protein in a fun-to-eat, energizing treat your kids will enjoy at lunch or play.

Welcome to Godminster, the home of award-winning organic cheddar made in the heart of Somerset. Born in Bruton, Godminster's range of award-winning organic cheddar brings the spirit of Somerset to life.