mods, feel free to move this....

So, I've been lacto-ovo veggie for about 7 months now. At first I was just trying to get the hang of the whole meat thing, so I didn't worry about things like rennet in cheese. Now that the whole concept of the veggie diet have become second nature (I don't really think about checking labels on things, I just do it), I've started to think about cheese. Specifically, the rennet in cheese. When I brought this up with my boyfriend (he's omni, but pretty open to the whole vegetarian diet), he gave me a funny look and asked if it really mattered. I didn't know enough at the time to discuss it with him.
How many other lacto-ovo vegetarians only use veggie rennet cheese?

I don't have any available to me from what I have seen at groccery stores and health food stores. I've cut out most of the cheese in my diet but I use soy cheese if I'm going to eat cheese.
I wasn't even aware that cheese wasn't vegetarian until a few months ago and I've been l/o for over a year.

Now the thought of putting cheese on something totally grosses me out. There's nothing like enzymes from dead animals' stomachs to make me want to vomit.

My fiance and I are both L-O veg and only eat cheeses made with non-animal rennet. Trader Joe's has a complete list of the rennet origins of their cheeses so we get a lot there; Whole Foods also has a list of the types of rennet used in their cheese but you have to ask for it at the cheese department (at least in Boston). I didn't know about rennet until about 2 years ago and I've been veg for 13 years!

Whole Foods also has a list of the types of rennet used in their cheese but you have to ask for it at the cheese department (at least in Boston). I didn't know about rennet until about 2 years ago and I've been veg for 13 years!


:surprised Whaaaat? All I have to do is ask for a list of rennet free cheeses and they will give it to me? You mean I don't have to call individual diary companies and ask them over the phone which cheeses do and do not contain rennet after explaining to the phone operator why I need to know?
This will make my life easier! I'm so excited! I wish that I would have known about this sooner! Exciting! Even the seasoned vegetarian can learn a thing or two from the newbies section, apparently! :vebo:

Whoo! I'll ask at Whole Foods the next time I'm there.

Too bad we don't have a trader joe's around here....

"...he gave me a funny look and asked if it really mattered."

i hope he is understanding of what veg*nism means to you if it something you value. it can't hurt to explain again in a gentle way why it is important to you.

in a sense it matters, in that getting rennet free means you won't get digestive fluid enzymes in your food-i.e. to avoid the "ick" factor.

on the other hand, your purchase of tiny amounts of rennet in cheese isn't a significant money-maker for the animal exploitation industry. so, in a relative sense, it doesn't "matter" to the animals. they're not killed for the rennet specifically- the profits on their exploitation and death are made elsewhere- their meat, eggs, and milk- where the demand is created. the cheese (dairy) itself in the product, otoh, "matters" a lot more in terms of animals because the demand for dairy does lead to their use and subsequent slaughter- milk/cheese are not an bi-product, in that way, but a direct product.

have you tried any soy cheeses? even if you don't worry about getting 100% dairy-free/vegan ones right off the bat, it would be a kinder alternative.

good luck whatever you decide.

That's some great info, thx! I will check next time I am in Cambridge.

To me, rennet is a direct slaughter by-product (as is gelatin) and so I avoid both. I haven't found it hard as in the UK most cheeses are labelled and even the companies providing the continental cheeses are very helpful.

"...he gave me a funny look and asked if it really mattered."

i hope he is understanding of what veg*nism means to you if it something you value. it can't hurt to explain again in a gentle way why it is important to you.

in a sense it matters, in that getting rennet free means you won't get digestive fluid enzymes in your food-i.e. to avoid the "ick" factor.

on the other hand, your purchase of tiny amounts of rennet in cheese isn't a significant money-maker for the animal exploitation industry. so, in a relative sense, it doesn't "matter" to the animals. they're not killed for the rennet specifically- the profits on their exploitation and death are made elsewhere- their meat, eggs, and milk- where the demand is created. the cheese (dairy) itself in the product, otoh, "matters" a lot more in terms of animals because the demand for dairy does lead to their use and subsequent slaughter- milk/cheese are not an bi-product, in that way, but a direct product.

have you tried any soy cheeses? even if you don't worry about getting 100% dairy-free/vegan ones right off the bat, it would be a kinder alternative.

good luck whatever you decide.

See, you're hitting on another issue that I've been dealing with. Part of me would like to go vegan, but I find that I'm dragging my feet at the idea for several reasons, which generally means that I need to work up to it slowly. As it is, my family is just starting to get used to the "no meat for MEM" rule when I come for a visit, telling them that milk, cheese and eggs are out may send them cowering in the corner. :rolleyes:

As for soy cheese: Anything that comes preslices and really processed scares the willies out of me.
I may try it when it comes time for grilled cheese sandwiches and soup, but that may not be until fall. I'm having way too much fun with salads and raw veggies right now.

Oh yeah, and the boyfriend tends to be more supportive than most people. He decided to go (mostly) veggie with me (although he still buys deli meats for sandwiches) because he doesn't like the idea of us cooking two separate meals at home.
I recently asked him if he wished that we'd go back to an omni household and he flat out refused. I'm guessing he looked at me funny about the cheese thing because it never occured to him before and I didn't have enough information to explain it to him.

See, you're hitting on another issue that I've been dealing with. Part of me would like to go vegan, but I find that I'm dragging my feet at the idea for several reasons, which generally means that I need to work up to it slowly. As it is, my family is just starting to get used to the "no meat for MEM" rule when I come for a visit, telling them that milk, cheese and eggs are out may send them cowering in the corner. :rolleyes:.

That will happen, just arm yourself with some intelligent, yet short, answers, as well as a sense of humor.

My family is all vegetarian and yet they STILL roll their eyes at my being vegan, and the thought of "having to figure out what to feed me" (...well, duh, I'm 40 years old, I can FEED MYSELF!)...

I always make sure I bring the best foods along to share - they end up thinking being vegan isn't such a difficult thing after all....

mods, feel free to move this....

So, I've been lacto-ovo veggie for about 7 months now. At first I was just trying to get the hang of the whole meat thing, so I didn't worry about things like rennet in cheese. Now that the whole concept of the veggie diet have become second nature (I don't really think about checking labels on things, I just do it), I've started to think about cheese. Specifically, the rennet in cheese. When I brought this up with my boyfriend (he's omni, but pretty open to the whole vegetarian diet), he gave me a funny look and asked if it really mattered. I didn't know enough at the time to discuss it with him.
How many other lacto-ovo vegetarians only use veggie rennet cheese?

I make a strong effort to buy cheese free of rennet.....I love cheese. My husband would freak if I stopped buying it.

Irony can be cool.

As I scanned the thread list, I had just sat down at the computer with a bowl of steamed veggies, boiled brown rice and Veggie Shreds soy cheese. I had just discovered the Veggie Slices yesterday. My husband, our church's family life director was buying groceries for the pool party/cook out. Becasue the funds were available and because it was possible that the pastor and his family would eat them, my husband bought a box of Boca Roasted Onion veggie burgers. (Tehy were on sale for $2.50. I should have bought me a box, since the Kroger by me doesn't have them.) Anyway, my husband was looking at the cheese and I thought about veggie cheese. I went to the natural foods section and found the Veggie Slices for only $2. It wasn't until after I got home that I realized that there were only 12 in the package. That's fine. I don't have to eat a lot of cheese. (The pastor and his family ate the marinated chicken they brought. That meant I got three free Bocas.:vebo:)

Anyway, tonight I went to Kroger in search of the Bocas and more cheese slices. The slices weren't on sale but the shredded stuff was for $2.50. I bought it and I think I like it better than the Kroger brand cheese I used to buy. :bobo:

Thanks for the info about the rennet free cheese. Even if it's not cheaper than the veggie cheese, it will be something my omni husband and I can both eat. I think he thought me even weider when I said I wasn't eating cheese anymore. I just don't like the thought that I'm eating something with animal products in it. Ew.