Randy Chandler
Totino's Pizza offers a range of cheese-based products, including the Totino's Triple Cheese Party Frozen Pizza and Totino's Cheese Party Pizza. The pizza contains wheat flour, water, imitation mozzarella cheese, vegetable oil, and rehydrated mozzarella cheese. While the pizza contains cheese, it is unclear whether it is suitable for a vegetarian diet. This is because the type of rennet used to make the cheese is unknown; cheese made with microbial rennet is vegetarian, whereas cheese made with animal rennet, derived from the stomach of a slaughtered cow, is not.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | No |
| Non-vegetarian ingredients | Rennet casein, gelatin, milk, soy, wheat |
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What You'll Learn
Totino's Triple Cheese Pizza contains non-vegetarian ingredients
Totino's Triple Cheese Pizza is a tasty square pizza that can be cooked in under 20 minutes. However, it contains non-vegetarian ingredients.
The pizza contains imitation mozzarella cheese, imitation cheddar cheese, and rehydrated mozzarella cheese. While these are cheese ingredients, they are not suitable for vegetarians. This is because they contain rennet casein, which is derived from the lining of a calf's stomach. Rennet is an ingredient that many vegetarians and vegans avoid eating.
In addition to the non-vegetarian cheese, the pizza also contains other animal-derived ingredients, including butter, buttermilk powder, whey powder, and gelatin. These ingredients are not suitable for vegetarians as they are sourced from animals.
The presence of these ingredients means that Totino's Triple Cheese Pizza is not suitable for those following a vegetarian diet. While some vegetarians may choose to consume dairy and eggs, rennet casein is often considered unacceptable due to its animal origin. Therefore, it is important to read ingredient lists carefully to ensure that products are aligned with one's dietary preferences and restrictions.
It is worth noting that Totino's does offer some vegetarian options, such as their Party Pizza Pack, which is marketed as being suitable for vegetarians. This suggests that the brand is aware of different dietary needs and preferences and is working to accommodate them. However, as with any packaged food, it is always important to check the ingredient list to ensure that the product aligns with one's dietary restrictions.
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Rennet, an animal product, is used in Totino's cheese
Rennet is a substance that is traditionally made up of a combination of enzymes from the stomachs of young ruminant animals like goats and calves. The traditional method of harvesting animal rennet involves dicing the cleaned and dried stomach, soaking it in whey or salted water, and filtering it after a few days. This process has largely been replaced by a more modern one, where the stomachs are deep-frozen, turned into powder, and then put in a special solution with added acid to activate the enzymes. Rennet has been used to separate milk into solid curds and liquid whey, which is used in the production of cheeses.
Rennet from calves has become less common, and most cheese is now made using chymosin derived from bacterial sources. One kilogram of rennet extract has about 0.7 grams of active enzymes, with the rest being water and salt, and sometimes sodium benzoate for preservation. Rennet is especially important in the production of hard cheeses such as mozzarella, parmesan, or cheddar cheese.
As animal rennet is derived from animals, it cannot be extracted from live animals, and thus the animals involved in the production of animal rennet need to be slaughtered, making it non-vegetarian. Totino's Cheese Pizza Rolls contain rennet casein, and thus are not suitable for strict vegetarians. However, it is important to note that different definitions of vegetarianism exist, and some may consider the consumption of rennet to be acceptable.
Fermentation-produced chymosin (FPC) is a vegetarian-friendly alternative to animal rennet, derived from fungi or bacteria. FPC has been on the market since 1990 and is a commercially viable alternative to animal rennet, with benefits such as higher production yield, better curd texture, and reduced bitterness.
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Totino's uses both animal and microbial rennet sources
The suitability of Totino's four-cheese pizza for vegetarians depends on the type of rennet used in the cheese-making process. Rennet is an enzyme that is commonly used in cheese production, and it can be derived from either animal or microbial sources.
Totino's, the company that manufactures the pizza, has confirmed that they use both animal and microbial rennet sources in their products. This means that the vegetarian status of their pizzas and rolls is uncertain, as it depends on the specific batch and supplier at the time of production.
Animal rennet is derived from the lining of a calf's stomach, which requires the slaughter of the animal. For this reason, many vegetarians and vegans choose to avoid consuming animal rennet. On the other hand, microbial rennet is suitable for vegetarians because it does not involve the use of animal products.
The use of both animal and microbial rennet sources by Totino's means that consumers who are concerned about the vegetarian status of their food cannot be certain that the cheese on their pizza is vegetarian. As a result, some people may choose to avoid Totino's products altogether to ensure that they are adhering to their dietary restrictions.
It is worth noting that not all vegetarians have the same dietary restrictions, and some may be comfortable consuming animal-based rennet. However, for those who wish to avoid animal-based products entirely, the uncertainty surrounding the source of rennet in Totino's products may be a cause for concern.
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Imitation mozzarella cheese is listed as an ingredient
Totino's 4 Cheese Pizza contains imitation mozzarella cheese as an ingredient. Imitation mozzarella cheese is a type of cheese substitute that is made from a combination of dairy and non-dairy ingredients. In this case, the imitation mozzarella cheese is made with a mix of water, vegetable oil (including palm, soybean, high oleic soybean, and/or canola oil), modified food starch, and other additives. It also contains a small amount of rehydrated mozzarella cheese, which is made with skim milk.
The use of imitation mozzarella cheese in Totino's 4 Cheese Pizza is likely due to cost and functionality reasons. Imitation cheese is often cheaper to produce and can have better melting properties than traditional cheese. However, it is important to note that imitation cheese may not have the same flavour, texture, or nutritional profile as real cheese.
One of the key considerations for vegetarians when consuming cheese is the source of rennet, which is an enzyme used in the cheese-making process. Traditional rennet is derived from the stomach of slaughtered animals, typically calves, and is thus not suitable for vegetarians. However, vegetarian alternatives to traditional rennet exist, such as microbial rennet, which is suitable for vegetarians.
In the case of Totino's 4 Cheese Pizza, the presence of imitation mozzarella cheese does not necessarily indicate whether the product is vegetarian or not. This is because the imitation mozzarella cheese listed in the ingredients may still contain animal-based rennet. Without specific information about the source of rennet used in the imitation mozzarella cheese, it is challenging to determine the vegetarian status of the product.
To conclusively determine if Totino's 4 Cheese Pizza is vegetarian-friendly, one would need to contact the manufacturer or refer to their website for detailed ingredient and nutritional information. It is important to note that the vegetarian status of a product can vary based on region and ingredient sourcing, so checking the packaging or reaching out to the company directly is always recommended.
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Rehydrated mozzarella cheese is also listed as an ingredient
Totino's Cheese Party Pizza is a frozen pizza that contains rehydrated mozzarella cheese as an ingredient. The pizza also includes other ingredients such as enriched flour, water, imitation mozzarella cheese, vegetable oil, and tomato puree. The rehydrated mozzarella cheese is made with part-skim milk, salt, cultures, and enzymes.
The presence of rehydrated mozzarella cheese as an ingredient in Totino's Cheese Party Pizza raises questions about its suitability for vegetarians. While the pizza does not contain any obvious meat products, the issue lies with the type of rennet used in the cheese-making process. Rennet is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in coagulating milk to make cheese. Traditionally, rennet was derived from the lining of a calf's stomach, making it unsuitable for vegetarians.
However, it is important to note that not all rennet is animal-based. There are also microbial sources of rennet that are suitable for vegetarians. In the case of Totino's Cheese Party Pizza, the company has confirmed that they use both animal and microbial rennet sources in their products. This means that the rehydrated mozzarella cheese in the pizza may be considered vegetarian or non-vegetarian depending on the specific production batch.
For strict vegetarians, it is essential to know the source of rennet in cheese products. Some vegetarians may choose to avoid Totino's Cheese Party Pizza due to the uncertainty of whether the rehydrated mozzarella cheese is made with animal or microbial rennet. The decision to consume this product depends on the individual's dietary preferences and strictness of their vegetarian diet.
Overall, the inclusion of rehydrated mozzarella cheese as an ingredient in Totino's Cheese Party Pizza highlights the complexity of determining the vegetarian status of certain foods. The use of both animal and microbial rennet sources by the company adds to the uncertainty, making it challenging for vegetarians to make informed choices.
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Frequently asked questions
Totino's uses both animal and microbial rennet sources in their pizzas and rolls. Therefore, it is advised to consider their products as non-vegetarian.
Rennet is the main ingredient that many vegetarians and vegans avoid eating as it is obtained from the lining of a calf's stomach.
You can contact the company to find out the source of rennet used in their products.
Totino's offers a variety of pizzas and rolls with different toppings and flavours, such as Totino's Triple Cheese Pizza Rolls and Totino's Party Pizza. However, it is not clear if the cheese they use is always vegetarian.
There are several vegetarian pizza options available in the market, including brands like Upton's Natural and Fig App, which offer vegan and vegetarian pizzas and rolls.
