Want to know if Parmesan is vegetarian? Then you've come to the right place! The fact that it is not vegan seems relatively logical due to the animal milk it contains. But why should Parmesan cheese (suddenly) not be a vegetarian food?
Many people assume that cheese is vegetarian - and for most varieties, they are absolutely right. However, Parmigiano Reggiano has a special feature that makes it unsuitable not only for vegans, but also for vegetarians.
In this article, I would like to show you why this is the case. I'll also show you which alternatives to classic Parmesan cheese are available to you on a vegetarian or purely plant-based diet. Let's go!
Background: Why is conventional Parmesan cheese not vegetarian?
The main reason why Parmesan cheese is not vegetarian is because Production or ripening process of the cheese to find!
Parmesan cheese has a Maturation period of at least 12 months. Certain enzymes are needed to thicken the milk without making it sour. These come from, among other things from the gastric mucosa of cows and are naturally there to make breast milk digestible.
And as the cows (especially calves) have to be killed to obtain these enzymesParmesan cheese (neither Parmigiano nor Grana Padano) is not vegetarian either.
The animals are not usually killed exclusively for the animal rennet, but the purchase of the corresponding cheese promotes the raison d'être of the meat industry and the brutal and resource-intensive Factory farming.
Notice: The addition of rennet is not required to be labeled on products in the supermarket. It is therefore important for vegetarians to find out more about the production of a particular cheese beforehand.
Alternatives: How can you replace Parmesan cheese with plant-based alternatives?
There are definitely vegetarian Parmesan varieties that are made with microbial or vegetable Rennet substitutes are produced. These are simply molds that are fermented by microorganisms. With conventionally produced cheese, however, this is usually associated with genetic engineering and should therefore be avoided.
With Organic cheese you can play it safe, even if they are not allowed to bear the classic name "Parmesan", as the term is protected. Montello is then, for example, a corresponding vegetarian alternative.
But there are now also really tasty vegan alternativeswith which you can consciously accept the otherwise cruelty to animals and then avoid killing animals altogether.
This vegan PROSOCIANO from Violife* for example, is incredibly good! Supplementary at this point I can also give you this kitchen grater* recommend
Tip: I prefer the vegan Parmesan alternatives because the Dairy industry even more brutal for me than the meat industry. You can find out why I think so in the linked article.
Understanding the Parmesan cheese production process and preferring vegetarian/vegan alternatives
Now you have confirmation as to why the typical Parmesan cheese from the Italian provinces of Parma, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Bologna and Mantua is not vegan and not even vegetarian.
I hope you like the plant-based alternative to Parmesan and that you will be able to use it in the future. Pasta, pizza and co. with an absolutely clear conscience. 🙂
"Animal protection is education to humanity."
Albert Schweitzer, Franco-German researcher and doctor (1875-1965)
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Or do you know of other delicious vegetarian-vegan Parmesan substitutes? Then just write me a comment.
Stay animal-friendly and sustainable,
PS: I used to think that it was being vegetarian is enough for me. But at some point I got to know the background of the dairy and animal industry. You can find out more in the linked article, why I then took the step to a vegan lifestyle have gone.
