It is a question we are often asked, especially by those following a vegetarian diet: Parmigiano Reggiano is not vegetarian, for a specific reason linked to its production regulations. Let us look at why, with clarity.
Rennet: what it is and why it is needed
Rennet is the substance that coagulates milk, transforming it from a liquid form to the solid form necessary to produce cheese. There are different types of rennet: animal, extracted from the stomachs of unweaned calves, and microbial or vegetable, obtained from other sources.
The production regulations for Parmigiano Reggiano PDO specifically require the use of calf rennet, a traditional element of the recipe that cannot be replaced without losing the PDO designation.
Why Parmigiano Reggiano PDO uses only animal rennet
The regulations governing the production of Parmigiano Reggiano are very strict and protect a production method handed down for centuries. Calf rennet is part of this tradition and also contributes to specific organoleptic characteristics of the final product that microbial rennet does not replicate in exactly the same way.
In copper vats, according to the traditional method.
Which starts the milk coagulation process.
The solid part that will then be processed to become the wheel of cheese.
"This is not an arbitrary choice by an individual dairy: it is a requirement of the PDO regulations that concerns all Parmigiano Reggiano producers."
So, can those who follow a vegetarian diet eat it?
From a strictly vegetarian point of view (which generally excludes meat and animal derivatives obtained through slaughter), Parmigiano Reggiano PDO **does not fall** into this category, precisely because of the use of animal rennet. It is an important distinction to be aware of, especially for those who follow this type of diet for ethical reasons.
An authentic product, with its own tradition
We are not writing this to discourage anyone, but for transparency: we believe that truly knowing what you are buying is part of the same value of authenticity that has guided us since 1879. Calf rennet is an integral part of that tradition which makes Parmigiano Reggiano what it is.
In short
- Parmigiano Reggiano PDO uses calf rennet, not vegetable
- It is a requirement of the production regulations, not an individual dairy's choice
- It is therefore not suitable for those following a strictly vegetarian diet
- It is a feature of the traditional recipe handed down for centuries
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