Does anybody here eat cheese with rennet. I am not looking for an argument about that not being vegetarian...I'm just wondering if anybody does it. Thanks.

Yes, probably. The times when I do eat cheese, I don't ask about the sources of the coagulant as I don't really see why it matters.

No. It's made from the stomachs of day-old calves. ICK. OK I don't eat cheese at all, but that's one of the reasons why.

No. Its not that hard to get cheese that's suitable for vegetarians, at least in England it's not. Although i'm trying to cut down on dairy, cheese is my one weakness, but i wouldnt eat it if it had animal rennet in it.

Yes. Although the cheddar and mozzarella I buy are made with microbial enzyme, odds are the more interesting cheeses I buy (Parmigiano Reggiano, raw milk cheeses, gorgonzola, etc.) are made with rennet.

Thats true. Most of the really nice ones arent vegetarian.

As a lacto-ovo vegetarian I did. The main reason is insufficient labeling in the US. However, I know now you can find rennet-free cheese at Vitamin Cottage and the Coop. (Both in the US on the West Coast.)

I try not to, although the cheese I get in resturants probably has rennet in it. I use only Cabot at home which, supposedly, doesn't have animal rennet in it.

I don't eat cheese with rennet. I stick to brands I know, and I either eat vegan when I eat in restaurants, or I call ahead (sometimes, exchanging numerous e-mails with company reps... once I got escalated up to a company president with my questions, hehe.)

very likely, yes.

but, when i buy cheese, i strive to buy cheese that uses non-animal rennet. if i'm confused about the rennet used, i won't buy it.

I try not to, I read the labels of the cheese I buy. But some of the labels aren't exactly clear. Like when it says "enzymes." I'm not sure on that one. The thought of rennet grosses me out and I try to avoid it. If we are out, however, or eating at someone else's house, I don't ask.

No. Its not that hard to get cheese that's suitable for vegetarians, at least in England it's not. Although i'm trying to cut down on dairy, cheese is my one weakness, but i wouldnt eat it if it had animal rennet in it.

i agree i dont want any part of my diet to have animals in it....

I try to avoid it, but if I'm out or in somebody's home, I don't ask. It's a very small amount that is added to it anyway--I probably get more dead animals in my diet eating broccoli or wheat.

Definitely cutting out dairy itself is more important than cutting out rennet. Dairy contributes to WAY more suffering than rennet does. But no, I don't eat rennet, because I don't eat cheese. :)

Thanks, everybody. I do eat cheese with rennet and just wanted to get an idea whether or not I was alone. I will go out of my way to buy more vegetarian cheeses, but it will be hard to stay away when at somebody else's home or a restaurant. Thanks.

It's fairly easy to buy cheese without animal rennet. A quick call to the maker's 1-800 number should clear up any any labeling ambiguities. Pretty much the only time I eat cheese is when I'm eating out, and I seriously doubt anyone in a given restaurant has any idea if their cheese is rennet-free. So I just eat it-- eating cheese in restaurants is almost entirely a coping mechanism for me, and raising hell about rennet takes all the cope right out if it.

Definitely cutting out dairy itself is more important than cutting out rennet. Dairy contributes to WAY more suffering than rennet does. But no, I don't eat rennet, because I don't eat cheese. :)

Everyone must make their own decisions. Definately people become veggie/vegan for different reasons. Some for animal rights, some for environmental issues and some for health, or any combo. And people have different levels of disclipine regarding their diets as well, when it comes to animal products and overall health as well ie: eating sugar and convenience foods and junk foods. I applaud everyone for their choices and for doing what is right by them.

Everyone must make their own decisions. Definately people become veggie/vegan for different reasons. Some for animal rights, some for environmental issues and some for health, or any combo. And people have different levels of disclipine regarding their diets as well, when it comes to animal products and overall health as well ie: eating sugar and convenience foods and junk foods. I applaud everyone for their choices and for doing what is right by them.

I totally agree with you that people go veg for different reasons, but I can't for the life of me understand why someone would be more concerned with cutting out rennet than with dairy? AR: dairy does more harm to animals. Environmental: dairy does more harm to the environment. Health: dairy does more harm to health.

Religious: dairy involves more animal disrespect
Humanistic: dairy deprives the world of more resources
Anti-corporation: dairy provides more money to large greedy corporations.

The only reasons I can think of to be purist about rennet are eating disorder/OCD, and perfectionism/fad diet mentality. And I know most vegetarians don't fall into these two categories. So maybe it's just lack of information? I don't know, you tell me.

For once I agree with CoS. If I had the energy and will to grill waiters and restaurant managers about rennet in the cheese and avoid all cheese with rennet in it, I'd put that energy into just avoiding all dairy in the first place. If I'm going to be weak and eat cheese (and I admit it, it's pure weakness and I have no excuse), I might as well not worry about the rennet.

The only reasons I can think of to be purist about rennet are eating disorder/OCD, and perfectionism/fad diet mentality.

This is a blanket statement. I wasn't trying to insult you sweetie. As for me personally, if that's what you are asking? I don't eat meat and I try to avoid rennet (if you read my first post in this thread) because the thought of eating meat is nauseating. I look at meat and I see muscle. I might as well take a bite out of my own arm. On the other hand, I spend an equal amount of time and energy on the overall health of my diet. I know plenty of vegans/veggies who are very unhealthy, eat alot of crap, BUT don't eat meat. So it's whatever you are happy with. I am concerned about animal rights, although I am not to the level that you are, obviously. My choices are my choices and I am happy that I am doing my part, however small it may seem to you. We obviously have different things that we think are important. I am concerned about animal rights, but I think more along the lines of educating the public about the conditions, and striving for more humane conditions, not on everyone becoming veggie/vegan because it is unlikely that will happen. It is more likely we can get people to open their eyes and be more humane. I don't think you'll agree, but that's my view. As far as health: I feel it is more healthy to not eat meat, or at least eat meat in moderation (this is my husband's part, being omni) and again, overall diet, ie: avoiding soda, chips, cookies/cake/candy, convenience foods, etc etc etc. And lastly about environmental issues, I consider myself more of an environmentalist than probably anything else. (Go ahead and throw in your argument here). Sure I eat cheese and use eggs and milk in cooking. HOWEVER I have my own free range chickens. I grow my own vegetables. I don't buy pre-packaged foods, I buy in bulk. And what I can't grow for myself, I buy at the local farmer's market and cut down on transportation pollution. So go ahead and get huffy about my ovo-lacto veggie-ism. But I seriously doubt that you contribute in the ways that I do. So it's a two way street. We can toss rocks at each other from our respective sides, or we can consider ourselves on the same side. And seriously, as much as I DO do, and being vegetarian for five years, I don't think I fall into the "fad" category. :rolleyes: And how, pray tell, does being "purist" about rennet, but still eating cheese mean you have an eating disorder or OCD? If you had an eating disorder I don't think you'd be eating cheese anyway. That argument is derogatory to ova-lacto's AND to those with ED and OCD. Not to mention that OCD and ED aren't even necessarily the same thing. That argument isn't even logical. It sounds like some half-thought out argument from a militant omni: "If you don't eat or think the way I do, then there must be something WRONG with you....maybe an eating disorder...." ??!!?!?!
(Just out of curiosity, have you responded to the "how long have you been vegan/how tolerant are you" thread? :) )

i just recently learned about rennet in cheese... its saddening yet i will still consume cheese. i am lactose intolerant anyways so my cheese intake is very low and when i do have it, i make sure its worth my two lactaid pills :)

I totally agree with you that people go veg for different reasons, but I can't for the life of me understand why someone would be more concerned with cutting out rennet than with dairy? AR: dairy does more harm to animals. Environmental: dairy does more harm to the environment. Health: dairy does more harm to health.

Religious: dairy involves more animal disrespect
Humanistic: dairy deprives the world of more resources
Anti-corporation: dairy provides more money to large greedy corporations.

The only reasons I can think of to be purist about rennet are eating disorder/OCD, and perfectionism/fad diet mentality. And I know most vegetarians don't fall into these two categories. So maybe it's just lack of information? I don't know, you tell me.

Good points... So tell me, why do you avoid gelatin? The same things you wrote could be applied to those who avoid gelatin. There's no ethical reasons to avoid rennet or gelatin since they are both byproducts of an industry that will exist regardless of our eating choices. They aren't killing cows just to get their stomach enzymes, any more than they are killing pigs just to boil down their tendons. The cows and pigs were killed for meat (and many other things) and the scraps that would otherwise be thrown away are boiled down into gelatin and used for rennet production. So, what is the reason so many vegetarians avoid gelatin and rennet.... simple: It's gross. People don't want to think that they are eating boiled muscles or stomach lining acids.

Well, I do eat cheese with rennet. I think it is too much bother to find cheese without it, and it will be more expensive.

When I buy cheese which is either labelled suitable for or not suitable for vegetarians, then I'll buy the rennet-free one. Some cheeses I like (such as feta) I have no idea if they have rennet in, same with any cheese I eat outside the home. The only cheese I consciously eat which I KNOW has rennet in it is parmesan. I've got a vegan version for use at home but I do enjoy the real deal on a pizza or salad (probably once a month or so). I always feel a bit guilty eating non-veggie cheese, but not bad enough to refuse it.

I think the feta cheese I buy doesn't contain rennet, but I'm not sure. Some of the cheeses I sometimes buy like goat cheese and mozzerella are rennet free, but the regular cheese (Gouda cheese) I use does contain rennet. To have vegetarian cheese, I would need to switch to organic cheese which is much more expensive...