Is Rennet Vegan?

Vegan status: Depends on Source

Also known as: Animal rennet, Chymosin, Microbial rennet, Vegetable rennet

Source

Traditional animal rennet is extracted from the stomach lining of slaughtered calves, lambs, or kid goats [not vegan]. Alternatives include: microbial rennet from fungi/bacteria [vegan], vegetable rennet from plants like nettles or fig sap [vegan], and fermentation-produced chymosin (FPC) [vegan, used in most commercial cheese today].

Commonly found in

Cheese (all types). Most commercially produced cheese today uses FPC or microbial rennet. Traditional cheeses (Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padano, traditional Gruyère) require animal rennet by their protected designation of origin (PDO) rules.

Vegan alternative: Microbial rennet, vegetable rennet, or fermentation-produced chymosin (FPC).

Notes

Most modern commercial cheese uses FPC rennet, which is produced by inserting calf chymosin genes into fungi or bacteria. The resulting enzyme is biochemically identical but is not animal-sourced — considered vegan by most standards.