Is Rennet Vegetarian?
CautionSometimes. Rennet, sometimes shown on labels as rennin, is an enzyme used to thicken milk in the cheesemaking process. Rennet can be derived from animal and non-animal sources. Animal rennet is derived from the stomach lining of baby mammals, typical unweaned calves.
Rennet and the Vegetarian Diet
Rennet is a complex set of enzymes produced in the stomachs of ruminant mammals, commonly used in the cheesemaking process to curdle milk into cheese. Traditionally, rennet is extracted from the stomach lining of unweaned calves, though microbial and fermentative methods have developed to produce non-animal rennet. These alternatives are suitable for vegetarians as they do not involve animal slaughter.
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- Evidence-based. Diet compatibility ratings are compiled from peer-reviewed nutrition guidance, dietary association recommendations, and ingredient composition data.
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