If you're following a vegetarian lifestyle, then you'll want to avoid animal rennet in cheese. Animal rennet comes from calf stomachs, and the enzymes have been used traditionally to curdle cheese. Some vegetarian cheeses do contain rennet that doesn't come from animals, and some contain no rennet at all.
Animal rennet comes from enzymes produced in the stomachs of ruminants — usually calves. It helps to curdle the cheese. Some manufacturers use vegetable rennet or synthetic rennet in cheese production, which contains no animal ingredients.
Cheeses That Don't Contain Rennet
In general, softer cheeses are less likely to contain animal rennet, while hard cheese and traditionally made cheeses are likely to contain it. These are cheese brands and types without rennet.
At the grocery store, read labels. If the ingredients list rennet, assume it's derived from animals. If it lists vegetable rennet, then it's vegetarian and not derived from animals. If it lists enzymes, it could contain animal rennet.
Cottage Cheese
In Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology (page 293), Marcia Nelms, Kathryn Sucher, and Sara Long note cottage cheese is traditionally made without the addition of rennet and is instead coagulated with an acidic ingredient such as vinegar. All brands of cottage cheese, including Kraft and Horizon Organic, are safe choices for those looking for rennet-free cheese.
Mascarpone
Traditional mascarpone cheese doesn't contain rennet. It is curdled using tartaric acid, so it's safe for vegetarians. Double-check the ingredients list just to be sure.
Cheeses That Use Vegetable Rennet
All the cheeses on this list traditionally contain animal rennet, but the cheesemakers listed make them with vegetable rennet.
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is often rennet-free, but not always. Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese is a rennet-free cheese. It's a good option for everything from bagels to recipes.
Mozzarella
Most mozzarella cheeses aren't technically rennet-free in that they contain vegetable rennet but not animal rennet. Some vegetarian cheese brands include:
- Whole Foods' 365
- Horizon Organic
- Frigo
- Trader Joe's
- Tillamook Dairy Co-Op
Provolone
Provolone is another cheese traditionally made with animal rennet that can be made with vegetable rennet. Brands containing vegetable rennet include:
- Whole Foods' 365
- Horizon Organic
- Applegate
Ricotta
Although ricotta is a soft cheese, it is traditionally made with animal rennet. These brands don't contain it:
- Frigo
- BelGiosio
- Stella
- Sargento
Swiss
Traditionally made with animal rennet, Swiss cheese is tasty but not vegetarian. Fortunately, some brands do make a version that doesn't contain animal rennet.
- Organic Valley
- Sargento
- Kraft
- Tillamook Dairy Co-Op
Cheddar
Cheddar cheese is the perfect cheese for a toasted cheese sandwich, and it's delicious in other foods, too. Traditionally, it contains animal rennet, but these brands don't.
- Whole Foods' 365
- Good & Gather
- Kerrygold
- Horizon Organic
- Tillamook Dairy Co-Op
- Trader Joe's
Colby
You'll find colby cheese without rennet from the following brands:
- Horizon Organic
- Tillamook Dairy Co-Op
Feta
This sharp goat cheese traditionally contains rennet. Brands that contain vegetable rennet or another vegetarian enzyme include:
- Whole Foods 365
- Horizon Organic
Monterey Jack
If you love Jack cheese, then these brands without animal rennet could suit your craving.
- Whole Foods' 365
- Horizon Organic
- Kirkland Signature
- Good & Gather
- Tillamook Dairy Co-Op
- Trader Joe's
Parmesan
Nothing tastes better on spaghetti than a little parmesan. It's a traditionally rennet-containing cheese, but these brands use vegetable rennet or other vegetarian enzymes.
- Whole Foods' 365
- Organic Valley
- Good & Gather shredded (only the shredded)
- Trader Joe's grated (only the grated)
- Frigo
You can find a comprehensive list of cheese brands that don't contain animal rennet at Vegetatio.
Vegan Cheese
Vegan cheese has come a long way in the past decade or so, and there are many good vegan cheeses, none of which contain animal rennet.
Vegetarian Cheeses
It's important to understand that not all cheese is vegetarian. Many different kinds of cheese are traditionally made with animal rennet, which is harvested from the stomach linings of veal calves. In recent years, cheesemaking has begun to shift. While many cheeses are still made using traditional production methods, the FDA allowed microbial coagulants in cheese manufacturing in 1972, so the practice is becoming more common.
Vegetarian Rennet
Vegetarian substitutes for rennet include microbial rennet, made from fermented soybeans or fungi; fermentation-produced chymosin (FPC), which is often genetically modified; and vegetable rennet.
Microbial Rennet
This enzyme is produced from fungi or mold. It is much cheaper than calves' rennet, but it can have a bitter flavor. Cheesemakers are more likely to use this product in young cheese since the aging process strengthens flavors.
Fermentation-Produced Chymosin (FPC)
This compound is used in more than 90% of all cheeses made in the United States, according to the Dairy Research Institute. It doesn't affect the flavor of the cheese as much as microbial rennet does. This type of rennet can be made by inserting the DNA that produces the rennet enzyme into fungi. In other words, this product is almost always genetically modified.
Vegetable Rennet
Some plants contain compounds that will curdle milk just like rennet does. The plant most commonly used for this compound is the thistle. But this rennet should only be used for cheese made from sheep or goat's milk since it will make cow's milk cheese bitter.
Finding Rennet on Labels
Labels won't always tell the whole story about the food, since the terms used are not always clear. The FDA states that "enzymes of animal, plant, or microbial origin may be declared as "enzymes" on a cheese label, with no delineation between animal forms and vegetable forms. Look for the term "vegetarian" or "vegan" on the label to narrow down your choices.
If you want to avoid GM or GMO foods, look for the "Non-GMO product" label on the cheeses you buy. A cheese label that states the product is "100% Organic" or "USDA Organic" is helpful, too, but that doesn't always mean the type of rennet used isn't GMO. The best way to determine if a cheese contains rennet, whether animal, plant-based, or GMO, is to message the company and ask.
Companies often change the ingredients they use when they make a product, so a cheese made with vegetarian-friendly rennet one week may be made with animal rennet the next. Some cheeses are also made with animal products, such as Vitamin A Palmitate, which is sometimes made with fish liver oil.
Finding Vegetarian Cheese
To ensure you are truly following a vegetarian diet, look for cheeses that have been made without the addition of animal rennet. Read labels carefully and check before you buy.
