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.
You may be asking yourself, what types of cheese can I eat? Vegans can eat cheese that is comprised of plant-based ingredients like soybeans, peas, cashews, coconut, or almonds. The most common types of vegan cheeses are cheddar, gouda, parmesan, mozzarella, and cream cheese that can be found in non-dairy forms.
The answer here is a pretty straightforward no. As feta cheese is made from the milk of sheep and sometimes goats it isn't suitable for anyone on a fully plant-based diet. Vegans will not only abstain from eating meat, but also all animal products or other foods that are made with the use of byproducts too.
Parmesan cheese is never vegetarian. Cheeses from a specific location need to follow a consistent recipe to be recognised as having specific names. In the case of Parmigiano-Reggiano, or Parmesan cheese, this means always using animal rennet.
The halloumi base is typically made from unpasteurised goat's or sheep's milk, and sometimes cow's milk. The inclusion of dairy milk of any kind renders halloumi completely not vegan friendly, and should not be consumed by anyone strictly following a plant-based diet.
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.
Greek yogurt is an animal-derived food. While it's perfectly acceptable on a vegetarian diet, dairy is definitely not part of a vegan diet. Luckily, there are dairy-free alternatives to Greek yogurt, including store-bought and homemade varieties like almond milk yogurt, cashew yogurt, and coconut yogurt.
A: Dairy mozzarella is not vegan, since it's made from animal products. You can easily make your oven vegan mozzarella though, using the recipe below!
Honey is by definition not vegan, since it a bee product, and bees are animals. Here's a nuanced article about how the ethical issues surrounding this sweetener fit into the broader concept of vegan living.
Beer, wine and cider can be non-vegan due to the products used in the filtration process, such as isinglass, gelatine and casein. Additionally, some non-vegan flavourings such as honey may be added, and some cocktails rely on milk and eggs.
Do vegans eat pasta? Most packaged pasta—including spaghetti, penne, and more—is vegan. It's worth checking the label to be sure, as some pasta contains eggs, but most of the pasta you see on the supermarket shelves is 100% vegan!
Yes, vegans can eat bread. At its core, a basic bread recipe contains just four simple ingredients: flour, water, salt, and yeast — all of which are vegan-friendly. Flour is simply a mixture of ground grains, making it entirely plant-based. Water is an animal-free substance found in any natural body of water worldwide.
While some of Kraft's cream cheese products contain animal rennet, their Philadelphia cream cheese does not, making it a suitable option for vegetarians.
Hummus is a vegan staple that allows you to have some versatility in your diet. It's an immensely popular food amongst vegans so you may have found a new favourite yourself. It's available in a wide range of flavours and is very versatile in the kitchen so you can experiment with it if you wish to.
If you're a diehard pizza fan, you may be under the impression that if you were to change your diet to vegetarian or vegan, you wouldn't be able to enjoy your favorite food any longer. This just isn't true! Pizza is still a staple among those following a meat-free or completely plant-based diet.
Most dark chocolate is inherently vegan. Superior quality dark chocolate only has a handful of ingredients: cocoa, (usually listed as cocoa mass and cocoa butter), sugar, lecithin, and sometimes vanilla.
Absolutely! All Chobani® products are free of gelatin, and other animal-based thickeners, and are a good source of protein for vegetarian diets. Our Non-Dairy Chobani® products are vegan friendly.
As the cheese ripens, it becomes softer and stronger in taste. Depending on the type, Camembert can be made from either pasteurised or raw milk. With no fillers or artificial preservatives, the cheese is unadulterated and gluten free, though the addition of animal rennet makes it unsuitable for vegetarians.
Many pizzas are 100% vegetarian-friendly. A basic pizza contains crust, marinara sauce, and cheese, which are all vegetarian ingredients. The best way to ensure that your pizza is vegetarian is to skip out on any meat toppings, such as pepperoni and sausage.
An excellent example of traditional French brie – soft, mild, and deliciously creamy, with a fresh, clean taste and velvety bloom on the edible rind. Made using pasteurised milk from cows grazed on the lush pastures of the Vosges mountains. Suitable for vegetarians.