[adamtron]

OK I was very shocked to find out that cheese was made with rennet- an enzyme that comes from a baby calf's stomach (gross!). So then I heard that there are cheeses made with so called "vegetable rennet" and thought that would be safe. However, I investigated the process and found that it is created by extracting the enzyme from the baby calf's stomach and then somehow attaching the DNA to fungus in order to duplicate or clone it. So no calves are killed in the process, but it's still animal DNA being used in the cheese. I am having trouble deciding how I feel about this, and if I want to quit eating cheese altogether or if it's OK. So what do other vegetarians think about this?<br><br><br><br>
Thanks for the help.<br><br><br><br>
-Adamtron

 

[kpickell]

If you are considering quitting cheese altogether, that's clearly the best option.<br><br><br><br>
Personally rennet has never been something that's concerned me since I'm only concerned with ending animal suffering and rennet does nothing to help or hinder the situation. Worrying about rennet is like trying to save the bark on a tree that's being being cut down and sent to the chipper. Well, that's just my opinion anyways. I would however be interested in reading the information you found about the cloning process you're talking about.

 

[meatless]

I agree with kpickell. The rennet, while from the stomach of veal calves, isn't any worse for the veal calves than the dairy industry that produces the milk to make the rest of the cheese. In fact, the rennet probably causes the least harm to the calf out of the whole cheese making process.<br><br><br><br>
Rennet definitely has a "nasty" element to it, and it's definitely not vegetarian by definition, but if what you're worried about is animal cruelty, dropping cheese altogether is the most meaningful way to reduce harm. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":up:">

 

[4EverGrounded]

Give up the cheese. That stuff is concentrated poision for the body.

 

[Aussyj]

Wait, so you don't see flesh as not vegetarian?.... Now I remember why Lacto-ovo is rediculous.<br><br><br><br>
Listen, I am a dick, so you don't need to tell me.... But you guys are rediculous! Saying rennet is vegetarian is like saying that gelatin is vegan. IT IS FLESH!!

 

[kpickell]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Now I remember why Lacto-ovo is rediculous.<br><br><br><br>
Listen, I am a dick, so you don't need to tell me.... But you guys are rediculous! Saying rennet is vegetarian is like saying that gelatin is vegan. IT IS FLESH!!</div>
</div>
<br>
Okay. ? He was talking about microbial sources anyways, not animal rennet. I think all the posts above said to ditch the cheese since it's the dairy production alone that's the bad thing in the equation, not the rennet.<br><br><br><br>
PS: Gelatin <b>is</b> vegan*. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
*Actually it's not, unless you define vegan as avoiding animal suffering, in which case avoiding gelatin does nothing to actually help reduce any animal suffering. Carry on.

 

[Aussyj]

What is gelatin made from?<br><br><br><br>
Gelatin is made from the bones, skins, hoofs, and tendons of cows, pigs, fish and other animals. It is animal protein used especially for its thickening and gelling properties. It is a non-vegetarian product. It is often used in candies and Jello.

 

[VeganTofu*ker]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>kpickell</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Okay. ? He was talking about microbial sources anyways, not animal rennet. I think all the posts above said to ditch the cheese since it's the dairy production alone that's the bad thing in the equation, not the rennet.<br><br><br><br>
PS: Gelatin <b>is</b> vegan*. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
*Actually it's not, unless you define vegan as avoiding animal suffering, in which case avoiding gelatin does nothing to actually help reduce any animal suffering. Carry on.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
sure it does. avoiding jell-o, and buying some replacement will decreaes demand for jello, increase demand for the alternative product, and thereby possibly decrease the demand for gelatin, and animal suffering. (even though it's an animal byproduct, it's still in demand in its own right, and decreasing demand might save a few animals down the road.)

 

[kpickell]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>VeganTofu*ker</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
sure it does. avoiding jell-o, and buying some replacement will decreaes demand for jello, increase demand for the alternative product, and thereby possibly decrease the demand for gelatin, and animal suffering. (even though it's an animal byproduct, it's still in demand in its own right, and decreasing demand might save a few animals down the road.)</div>
</div>
<br>
I don't think I understand what you're saying. Say nobody in the whole world buys any gelatin ever again starting tomorrow... how would that save any animals?<br><br><br><br>
PS: AussyJ explained what gelatin is in case you didn't know. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Dirty Martini]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>kpickell</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I don't think I understand what you're saying. Say nobody in the whole world buys any gelatin ever again starting tomorrow... how would that save any animals?</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
I saw someone with a t-shirt the other day that said "gelatin factory" on it. that was weird.

 

[meatless]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Aussyj</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Wait, so you don't see flesh as not vegetarian?.... Now I remember why Lacto-ovo is rediculous.<br><br><br><br>
Listen, I am a dick, so you don't need to tell me.... But you guys are rediculous! Saying rennet is vegetarian is like saying that gelatin is vegan. IT IS FLESH!!</div>
</div>
<br><br><br><br><br>
Look, I'm vegan, I don't consume any of it.<br><br><br><br>
My point is just that if you're worried about harming animals, it's silly to get all tied up in knots about gelatin, rennet etc. while you're still eating cheese and slurping milk. It's the milk and cheese that are causing the most harm to animals. I don't consider gelatin and rennet vegetarian, but from a harm standpoint it's not like you're "saving" animals by eating rennet-free cheese.

 

[ommmmaggie]

I am a little confused about the question itself - would you quit cheese because you're concerned that the vegetable rennet is animal-based? Or because it's an animal by-product that contributes to the success of the factory farming industry?<br><br><br><br>
I don't think there's a right or wrong choice - I'm a vegan, but not a militant my-way-or-the-highway one. I chose to give up all animal products and by-products because they all put dollars in the pockets of the factory farmers. So it's an ethical choice for me, more than strictly a food choice.<br><br><br><br>
If your concern is about rennet being animal-based, I can see that it would be a fine line. Personally it sounds like a pretty gross process - calf stomach enzymes and fungus. Yum. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/spew.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":spew:"><br><br><br><br>
If it was strictly a food choice for me, I would have a tough time deciding which was worse, animal or vegetable rennet. But once I'm at all focused on animal suffering, I can't delude myself - extracting anything from an animal causes pain and suffering, even if it doesn't kill the animal. And come on, the lives of most calves are already hard enough, aren't they?