Is parmesan cheese vegetarian?

Question

No-one seems to know... And loads of restaurants use it in their vegetarian options

If not, why not?

Answer 1

If you are vegan, than no, beacuse vegans eat nothing from an animal such as egg, milk, chesse. If you are vegetarian than yes beacuse vegetarians eat things that come from an living animal not an animal that has been killed such as where meat comes from.

Answer 2

Most ovo-lacto vegetarians will it it, but the chick above is right about rennet.  Still, ovo-lactos tend to just ignore it.

Answer 3

Most brands are not.  Horizon Parmesan is though!

Answer 4

unless you were a vegan i think its perfectly fine

Answer 5

A lot of parmesan cheese, especially imported parmesan is made with rennet which is derived from the stomach of slaughtered cows. Definitely not vegetarian.

(Some cheese is now made with non-animal enzymes, but animal enzymes (rennet) are still widely used.)

Answer 6

you need to differentiate between vegetarian & vegan.

a "vegan" product is something that does not use any animal products whatsoever so cheese made using both milk & rennet cannot be considered.

"Vegetarian" products do not contain animal meat or fish protein although usually can & do have eggs, cheese & dairy product within them which is why you will see Parmesan in your vegetarian options in the restaurant.

parmesan cheese is traditionally made with rennet which is derived from animals so it is not vegetarian. There are cheeses that are made using plant based rennet which can be considered "more vegetarian although still not vegan" & Soy cheeses which are made from Soy milk not animal milk also contain Vegetable rennet which make them "vegan friendly products"

I hope this helps

Answer 7

Parmesan is made with cow's milk and calf rennet. A lot of my vegetarian friends do consider it acceptable food, but this might vary due to various reasons as to why one is a vegetarian.