Vegetarian Checklist
Eggs
Cheese
Chocolate
Alcohol
Beer
Wine
Spirits
Cleaning Products
Toothpaste
Update on Vegetarian Cheeses
Our last survey of cheese manufacturers in Ireland took place about 4 years ago – here in this article, we present a newly updated list of vegetarian cheeses available to the Irish consumer in the year 2000. During the earlier survey, producers were contacted directly and asked about their cheese making processes. The list below has been compiled using a combination of website access, direct contact with producers and some sleuth work - going into the supermarkets and health food shops with a good old note pad and pen!
Vegetarian Cheese?
The first question one might ask is; what makes a cheese suitable or unsuitable for vegetarians? Cheeses can be made with any type of milk, and in the case of vegan substitutes, soya or rice milk, for example. This in itself is absolutely acceptable - whether vegetarian or vegan, there is an option for everyone. Problems can arise, however, once the actual processing of the milk commences.
The Cheese Making Process
Depending on the type of cheese being made, the process varies. The following simplified description (for making cheddar cheese) goes some way towards explaining the procedure.
Raw milk is delivered to the dairy and pumped into giant aluminium vats, where it is heated to a temperature of around 30oC. Once heated, a acidic liquid is added to the milk called rennet. The rennet curdles the milk, separating the milk into solids (curds) and liquids (whey). The mix is heated more to encourage the further separating and setting of the solids (this is known as scalding). The two parts of the mixture must then be fully separated - only about 10% of the original quantity of milk remains as solids - the part that eventually ends up as cheese. Salt is added and mixed through to act as a stabiliser and preservative. The curds are then packed in cheesecloths and specific species of moulds are permitted to colonise the outside of the cloths around the blocks of cheese. After a maturation period, the large blocks are prepared for packaging and sale.
Rennet - what source?
The problem occurs once the rennet is added. Traditionally, rennet has been sourced from the stomach juices of animals - usually calves. More recently, a microbial alternative (suitable for vegetarians) has been more commonly used in cheese making, but this is by no means across the board.
Rennet acts in much the same way as other acidic liquids such as vinegar or lemon juice. In fact, a cheese called ‘paneer’, used extensively in mid-eastern cookery and reasonably easy to make at home, is prepared using only milk and lemon juice.
Some cheese types (such as cheddar or brie) can be found in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian forms. Other varieties are not so flexible - an example of a cheese type which is not suitable for vegetarian consumption is parmesan - our enquiries have yet to uncover a vegetarian alternative available for sale in Ireland (however, a non-dairy substitute exists: Florentino Parmazano found in Health Food Shops).
Labelling…
There is a distinct lack of vegetarian-related labelling on most foods, with products at the cheese counter being no exception. A good variety of cheeses on the market are indeed suitable for vegetarian consumption but there is often no way of knowing without going in search of answers - a slow business at the best of times.
The following table lists those products which are suitable for vegetarians. A small minority actually have vegetarian symbols on their packaging - either vegetarian society approved symbols or own brand symbols. The rest have been passed as vegetarian based on the information volunteered by the producers.
| Company Name | Product Name | Other Details | Vegetarian Symbol present on packaging? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akadia | Feta all’ provencal | Sold in jars with olive oil and herbs | States ‘vegetarian rennet’ in ingredients list |
| Ardrahan Farmhouse, Cork | Ardrahan Farmhouse Cheese | semi-soft cheese, a mature variety | -- |
| Avonmore Foods Plc. | Cheddar, mozzarella Cheeses | Their cheddar and mozzarella range is vegetarian | No symbol |
| Cahills Farm Cheeses Ltd., Co. Limerick |
|
All of their range is vegetarian | -- |
| Carbery Milk Products, Co. Cork | Dubliner cheddar & variety of other cheddars such as mild white & mature white | All of their range is vegetarian | Vegetarian Society of Ireland symbol |
| Carrigaline Farmhouse, Co. Cork | Carrigaline Farmhouse Cheese | All of their range is vegetarian | -- |
| Castelli | Mozzarella | Packaged in bags | States ‘suitable for vegetarians’ |
| Cooleeney | Camembert | -- | States ‘vegetarian rennet’ in ingredients list |
| Dunbarra Cheese Company Ltd. | Dunbarra soft cheese (peppered or unpeppered), Dunbarra soft goat’s cheese | All of their range is vegetarian | States ‘vegetarian rennet’ in ingredients list |
| Glanbia Foods | Kilmeaden cheddars | -- | States ‘suitable for vegetarians’ |
| Glen Foods Ltd., Co. Cork | Glenlara cheddars: red, white and mature | -- | -- |
| Gleneely Foods (importers) |
|
-- | -- |
| Singletons Farmhouse Cheddar | -- | -- | -- |
| Golden Vale group | -- | All of their unprocessed cheese range is vegetarian | No symbol |
| Govinda’s restaurant, Dublin | Paneer cheese | Made fresh everyday at the restaurant using milk and lemon juice | -- |
| Horgan’s |
|
-- | No symbol |
| KRAFT | Philadelphia ORIGINAL (only?) | -- | No symbol |
| Le Roitelet |
|
-- | No symbol |
| MD Danish | Mozzarella | packaged in blocks | UK vegetarian society symbol |
| Mitchelstown | Vegetarian Cheddar (red) | The rest of the range is unlabelled | product name: ‘Vegetarian Cheddar’ |
| Rambol | Walnut Gateau | -- | No symbol |
| RUPP (Australia) | smoked processed cheese | -- | -- |
| Saint Agur | blue cheese 60% | -- | -- |
| St. Killian Farmhouse | Carrigbyrne (camembert style) | -- | States ‘vegetarian rennet’ in ingredients list |
| Tipperary co-op creamery Ltd. | Eg: Emmental, Aherlow and smoked Aherlow | All of their range is vegetarian | -- |
| Wexford creamery Ltd. | -- | All of their range is vegetarian | -- |
| Boursin | Boursin Cream cheese | -- | No symbol |
| Kerry Foods ltd. | Charleville cheddar | -- | UK vegetarian society symbol |
Widely available cheeses which are not suitable for vegetarian consumption include:
- Horgan’s Cambazola; Dutch Edam; Danish Blue
- Bonifaz 70% brie with garlic
- Le Rustique camembert
- Grana Padano Parmesan
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- Salakis Feta
- Societe Roquefort
Supermarkets
Marks & Spencer and Tesco stores have their own brand vegetarian symbols, which are clearly visible on those products which qualify for them. Currently, Dunnes Stores appear to have no marking or labelling procedure. Superquinn have an excellent and informative website, however, the packaging of their cheeses does not appear to be as informative.
Finally, one must remember that lists such as these are almost always incomplete - there are always products and brand names which will escape. However, it is always helpful to have an incomplete list to use as a guide. If any readers come across unlisted products please let us know, and we will print updates in future editions of the newsletter and website updates. Happy cheese hunting!
Maria Connolly
Home News & Interest Nutrition Product Issues Becoming Vegetarian Recipes Guide to Ireland Links