Cheese Fans Pledge To Go ‘Full Vegan’ After Discovering How Parmesan Is Made

Twitter users have recently expressed outrage after learning about the use of rennet in the production of Parmesan cheese, with some vowing to go 'full vegan' as a result. Rennet, an ingredient derived from the stomach lining of young animals, is a key component in traditional cheese-making processes such as separating milk solids to create cheese curds. While rennet is considered a by-product, its production involves killing animals, prompting many to question the ethics of consuming cheese made with this ingredient.

Despite the controversy surrounding rennet, there are plant-based alternatives available that can be used in commercial cheese-making. Plant rennet, derived from plants like nettles and thistles, can thicken milk in a similar manner to rennin. Additionally, microbial alternatives exist, where certain strains of mold produce rennin-like enzymes that can be extracted and used. Despite the existence of these alternatives, current food labeling laws do not require cheese manufacturers to specify which type of rennet has been used during production.