Updated 1/4/2023 -Now more than 1000 vegetarian-suitable cheeses from The USA, UK, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
Generalities – not 100% – but generally:
- Traditional cheeses of France, Italian and Spain with AOP, AOC, DPO, DOP designation use ANIMAL rennet and are NOT vegetarian-suitable.
- Portuguese cheeses – many use thistles to coagulate milk for cheese; especially along the Spain/Portugal border and ARE vegetarian-suitable.
- English/UK/USA – use microbial rennet to coagulate milk for cheese and are vegetarian-suitable.
- Fresh Cheeses and lactic-set cheeses do not always use rennet. Some do use rennet or some type of acid as a coagulant. More information at cheesemaking.com
Please note: If “all cheeses” are noted in column two, the link will be to producer’s web page that lists all their cheeses or a page that states the producer uses non-animal coagulants.
I cannot guarantee the accuracy of information I obtained from many sources and if you question an item, I suggest you contact the producer directly. I have worked diligently to make this list as accurate as possible, but I am sure there are some errors.
If the link is to Culture Magazine, The Cheese Shed, Tomales Bay or Neal’s Yard Dairy, you can trust the information to be accurate.
Some links may not confirm that the producer uses vegetarian rennet. If there is a link it means I have confirmed via a third-party and/or the producers directly.
*Not confirmed as vegetarian-suitable, however listed as such on a third-party website. Confirm with label or producer.
** Non-dairy cheeses – contains no animal milk
*** Uses Vegetarian rennet but coats cheese in lard that is or may be animal-based.
https://vegetatio.com/content/joyous-living-full-vegetarian-cheese-list
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~veggie/nonveg/cheese.html
https://www.cheese.com/vegetarian/
https://culturecheesemag.com/cheese-library/
https://www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk/
https://www.thecheeseshed.com/
https://www.welshcheesecompany.co.uk/
http://www.tomalesbayfoods.com/library-of-cheese-2/
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Great site…keep up the good work.
I am glad what you are performing here and turned it over to the cheese People at our local PCC consumer coop. However, THe question of Vegetable enzymes in cheeses constantly is a bother, both physcailly and for religious reasons. so please add the (TOTAL VEGETABLE ENZYMES listing to your cheese please, Verified. thanks mr b.
Thanks for your comments. If you wish to submit such an addition, after it is verified, I will post it.
Thank you sincerely for the useful information. Just as a friendly comment- you might want to add Cabot Cheeses. All Cabot cheeses are cultivated in Co-ops and are animal enzyme free, according to the website:
http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/your_health/askus.php
Thanks again for the posting!
Soor
we will add Cabot – thanks so much for the comment.
Here are a few others that I believe are also vegetarian: Cashel Irish Blue, Fromager D’Affinois, Shropshire & Sonoma Dry Jack. Great list though-Thanks!
Althea, will check these out an d add them – thanks for the suggestions.
Here is a list of the vegetarian Belgioioso cheeses http://www.belgioioso.com/OtherInfo.htm
btw- just called bel gioiso- their regular parmesan, asiago, and provolone are NOT vegetarian. However, their specially marked vegetarian parmesan, mozzarella, and mascarpone are vegetarian.
Again, thanks for your assistance!
Thank you. I will also confirm this information and assuming you are correct, will make the changes. Thanks for taking the time and visiting the blog. SG
Thanks for the link. I’ll update the list accordingly.
Just bought boars head Monterey jack cheese sandwhich at a local deli and asked to look at the package. It listed enzymes not specific. How do I really know this is not animal enzymes??
The best way to confirm that information is to contact the manufacturer directly with your specific question.