the vast majority of cheese available in the us is made with lab-grown vegetarian rennet. some european cheeses with protected designation of origin legally require animal rennet, like parmesan, but many people under 30 have never eaten non-halal cheddar cheese in their lives
The MAGA outrage du jour that started on Twitter and has now been picked up by the OR GOP is that someone noticed that Tilamook cheese (made in Oregon) has a halal label. They’ve had it for years and they switched to non-animal rennet for economic reasons. But the hate machine must be fed.
September 20, 2026 at 7:35 AM
the vast majority of cheese available in the us is made with lab-grown vegetarian rennet. some european cheeses with protected designation of origin legally require animal rennet, like parmesan, but many people under 30 have never eaten non-halal cheddar cheese in their lives
I worked for the largest producer of Gouda cheese here in the Netherlands. Of course it uses vegetarian rennet. Otherwise it could not export. Not just bc of halal but bc unfortunately Creutzfeld Jacob exists, for which calf rennet is a risk.
September 20, 2026 at 7:23 AM
I worked for the largest producer of Gouda cheese here in the Netherlands. Of course it uses vegetarian rennet. Otherwise it could not export. Not just bc of halal but bc unfortunately Creutzfeld Jacob exists, for which calf rennet is a risk.
Non-animal rennet also makes it suitable for vegetarians.
September 20, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Non-animal rennet also makes it suitable for vegetarians.
Get Jeremy Rennet to star in it
August 6, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Get Jeremy Rennet to star in it
The halal designation is mostly about rennet. This ingredienet essential to cheese making can come from animal or vegitarian sources.
Using anmal rennet leads to inconsistant flavors as each anmil differentiates more than plants do.
Almost all commercial cheese makers use veg rennet.
Using anmal rennet leads to inconsistant flavors as each anmil differentiates more than plants do.
Almost all commercial cheese makers use veg rennet.
September 21, 2026 at 3:54 PM
The halal designation is mostly about rennet. This ingredienet essential to cheese making can come from animal or vegitarian sources.
Using anmal rennet leads to inconsistant flavors as each anmil differentiates more than plants do.
Almost all commercial cheese makers use veg rennet.
Using anmal rennet leads to inconsistant flavors as each anmil differentiates more than plants do.
Almost all commercial cheese makers use veg rennet.
…I'm guessing the reason the 10-year sharp isn't halal is because it predates the rennet switch?
September 20, 2026 at 7:47 AM
…I'm guessing the reason the 10-year sharp isn't halal is because it predates the rennet switch?
it is largely agreed that to the extent that anyone can taste a difference between rennet harvested from the intestines of animals and rennet produced by gene fermentation it is only in long-aged cheeses (thus the parmesan requirement). it is cheaper, easier, and vegetarian (and halal)
September 20, 2026 at 7:44 AM
it is largely agreed that to the extent that anyone can taste a difference between rennet harvested from the intestines of animals and rennet produced by gene fermentation it is only in long-aged cheeses (thus the parmesan requirement). it is cheaper, easier, and vegetarian (and halal)
Vegetarian rennet is also great for vegetarians who notice such things. It's a selling point without a downside.
September 20, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Vegetarian rennet is also great for vegetarians who notice such things. It's a selling point without a downside.
Apparently, some segment of maga learned that Tillamook cheese is Halal and now they're boycotting it because they don't want cheese that has had Muslim prayers over it but... Tillamook just uses vegetarian rennet.
September 21, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Apparently, some segment of maga learned that Tillamook cheese is Halal and now they're boycotting it because they don't want cheese that has had Muslim prayers over it but... Tillamook just uses vegetarian rennet.
TIL that Tillamook cheese uses non-animal rennet. New favorite cheese just dropped!
September 20, 2026 at 1:50 PM
TIL that Tillamook cheese uses non-animal rennet. New favorite cheese just dropped!
rennet free cheese
September 21, 2026 at 10:56 PM
rennet free cheese
Farmers cheese, no rennet
September 25, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Farmers cheese, no rennet
Somehow I can imagine that RF Kennedy and his followers somehow think calf rennet's minute chance of prion disease is a pro. That calf rennet weaponises your brain against CJ or something ludicrous.
September 20, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Somehow I can imagine that RF Kennedy and his followers somehow think calf rennet's minute chance of prion disease is a pro. That calf rennet weaponises your brain against CJ or something ludicrous.
I realize X is awful and nearly unusable. But it does offer benefits. For example, did you know that the entire far right is crashing out about Tillamook Cheese being certified halal? It's a full on Bud Light style tantrum over vegetable-based rennet used since 2016. And I only know because of X.
September 18, 2026 at 7:09 PM
I realize X is awful and nearly unusable. But it does offer benefits. For example, did you know that the entire far right is crashing out about Tillamook Cheese being certified halal? It's a full on Bud Light style tantrum over vegetable-based rennet used since 2016. And I only know because of X.
I mean we’re already using artificial rennet heavily
If this tastes good (and I'm sure it will), then yes, of course people will eat it.
And that will be a great thing for nature, potentially freeing up vast areas for rewilding.
share.google/XyyGCk89yoBq...
And that will be a great thing for nature, potentially freeing up vast areas for rewilding.
share.google/XyyGCk89yoBq...
Lab-grown cheese is coming – but would you eat it?
As vegan cheese sales decline and concerns about ultra-processed foods grow, a new cheese on the block faces challenges.
share.google
July 13, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I mean we’re already using artificial rennet heavily
if you’re wondering how twitter is going there’s a big ol racist freak out because someone randomly noticed tillamook cheese has a certified halal stamp on the packaging (it’s had it for a decade, they use vegetarian rennet, and it’s also kosher)
September 19, 2026 at 12:36 AM
if you’re wondering how twitter is going there’s a big ol racist freak out because someone randomly noticed tillamook cheese has a certified halal stamp on the packaging (it’s had it for a decade, they use vegetarian rennet, and it’s also kosher)
Being that there's no mention of rennet or anything else, the expression's validity is sound.
September 18, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Being that there's no mention of rennet or anything else, the expression's validity is sound.
Our biggest export was to Asia; muslim countries, so the cheese was halal, but also to the Far east. In Japan, South Korea and a few other countries artificial rennet is mandatory because of prion disease. The halal label on cheese means the whole world safely eats it.
September 20, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Our biggest export was to Asia; muslim countries, so the cheese was halal, but also to the Far east. In Japan, South Korea and a few other countries artificial rennet is mandatory because of prion disease. The halal label on cheese means the whole world safely eats it.
I own a dairy farm and sit atop an infinite supply of rennet, and this still reigns supreme in my household
October 7, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I own a dairy farm and sit atop an infinite supply of rennet, and this still reigns supreme in my household
Favorite part of this is that they changed the rennet years ago and nobody noticed until they realized they could market it as halal now
September 19, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Favorite part of this is that they changed the rennet years ago and nobody noticed until they realized they could market it as halal now
You know what they say: you don't buy cheese, you only rennet.
January 11, 2025 at 6:29 AM
You know what they say: you don't buy cheese, you only rennet.
Honestly, it's really underplayed how much the Roman Army created a cheese explosion across Europe.
Cheese was part of the standard ration. Wherever it went, it brought with it an insatiable demand for cheese, and left behind knowledge on the use of rennet and other techniques to make cheese better
Cheese was part of the standard ration. Wherever it went, it brought with it an insatiable demand for cheese, and left behind knowledge on the use of rennet and other techniques to make cheese better
Yeah, hard cheese in particular is a great thing to have!
There's a reason why it was so important for e.g. alpine communities (which is my area of research).
So, as much as it pains me as a Swiss medievalist to say this: Well, thanks Romans, I guess there is something good you did after all! ;-)
There's a reason why it was so important for e.g. alpine communities (which is my area of research).
So, as much as it pains me as a Swiss medievalist to say this: Well, thanks Romans, I guess there is something good you did after all! ;-)
October 21, 2024 at 11:50 AM
Honestly, it's really underplayed how much the Roman Army created a cheese explosion across Europe.
Cheese was part of the standard ration. Wherever it went, it brought with it an insatiable demand for cheese, and left behind knowledge on the use of rennet and other techniques to make cheese better
Cheese was part of the standard ration. Wherever it went, it brought with it an insatiable demand for cheese, and left behind knowledge on the use of rennet and other techniques to make cheese better
people who are afraid of halal have no clue what rennet is
i bet it would be easy to start an antirennet movement
i bet it would be easy to start an antirennet movement
September 21, 2026 at 8:34 PM
people who are afraid of halal have no clue what rennet is
i bet it would be easy to start an antirennet movement
i bet it would be easy to start an antirennet movement
Imagine being angry that muslims can eat cheese 🧀
For cheese to be halal, it just needs to use microbial rennet or rennet from a halal-slaughtered animal (from what I understand).
Lots of products in the US have kosher and halal certifications on them.
For cheese to be halal, it just needs to use microbial rennet or rennet from a halal-slaughtered animal (from what I understand).
Lots of products in the US have kosher and halal certifications on them.
September 20, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Imagine being angry that muslims can eat cheese 🧀
For cheese to be halal, it just needs to use microbial rennet or rennet from a halal-slaughtered animal (from what I understand).
Lots of products in the US have kosher and halal certifications on them.
For cheese to be halal, it just needs to use microbial rennet or rennet from a halal-slaughtered animal (from what I understand).
Lots of products in the US have kosher and halal certifications on them.
In the end we all do what we must
April 5, 2026 at 5:15 PM
In the end we all do what we must