Andy Montoya
Trader Joe's is an American chain of grocery stores that offers a variety of products, including cheese. With the rise of plant-based diets, many people are interested in knowing whether the products they consume are vegetarian or not. While some products at Trader Joe's may seem vegetarian-friendly, it is important to carefully examine the ingredients to make an informed decision. In this case, the focus is on whether Trader Joe's Parmesan cheese is suitable for vegetarians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Contains meat or fish | Yes, contains animal rennet |
| Contains milk | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Trader Joe's Pecorin Romano & Parmesan Cheese Blend Grated is not vegetarian
- Parmesan cheese often isn't vegetarian
- Some seemingly vegetarian products at Trader Joe's contain meat or dairy
- Bovine gelatin, a thickening agent derived from animal body parts, is added to some products
- The Fig app can scan barcodes and flag non-vegetarian ingredients
Trader Joe's Pecorin Romano & Parmesan Cheese Blend Grated is not vegetarian
Trader Joe's offers a wide range of products that cater to vegetarian and vegan diets, which is great news for those who are adopting plant-based diets. However, it is always important to check the ingredients of products to ensure that they do not contain animal products.
Unfortunately, Trader Joe's Pecorino Romano & Parmesan Cheese Blend Grated is not vegetarian. This is because the product lists one ingredient that is derived from meat or fish, and two other ingredients that may be derived from meat or fish, depending on the source. The non-vegetarian ingredients in this product are animal rennet, which is derived from the stomachs of slaughtered animals, and pasteurized sheep's and cow's milk, which may be derived from animals that have been harmed in the milk production process.
This is not the only product from Trader Joe's that seems vegetarian but is not. For example, their caramelized onion dip contains gelatin, and their elote chopped salad kit contains bovine gelatin in the dressing.
It is important for vegetarians to be vigilant about checking the ingredients of products, as some items that are assumed to be vegetarian may, in fact, contain animal products.
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Parmesan cheese often isn't vegetarian
Parmesan cheese is often not vegetarian because of the use of rennet, which is pretty crucial to the Parmigiano-Reggiano production process. Rennet is usually taken from the fourth stomach of a relatively young grazing animal, such as calves, goats, or lambs. The stomach is prized for its concentration of an enzyme called chymosin, which gradually loses its potency over time as grass replaces milk in the animal's diet. Traditionally, getting rennet has meant slicing the stomachs of young calves into little pieces dropped into salt water or whey, with something acidic used to draw out the enzymes.
There are some vegetarian Parmesan brands that use vegetable rennet instead. Rennet can be derived from boiling cardoon thistle, artichokes, or nettles in water and straining the end result with a cheesecloth, leaving behind a thickening enzyme functionally similar to chymosin. Certain Iberian cheeses like Azeitão are traditionally made using plant rennet, meaning vegetarians may have better luck shopping for Portuguese or Spanish options. However, non-animal alternatives to rennet are not as popular as the animal-derived version, as they can be a bit fussier to make and the flavor might be different.
Some vegetarians continue to eat Parmesan cheese, as they consider vegetarianism to include dairy and/or eggs. However, those who wish to avoid Parmesan cheese can find alternatives in supermarkets, such as Tesco's vegetarian Pecorino or Asda's 'Italian hard cheese'.
While it is possible to find vegetarian Parmesan cheese, it is not always easy to shop for plant-based groceries at Trader Joe's. Some products that seem vegetarian actually contain animal products. For example, the garlic cucumber tzatziki contains bovine gelatin, a thickening agent derived from animal body parts.
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Some seemingly vegetarian products at Trader Joe's contain meat or dairy
While Trader Joe's has a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options, some of its products that seem vegetarian actually contain meat or dairy. For instance, the Pecorino Romano & Parmesan Cheese Blend Grated is listed as non-vegetarian because it contains one ingredient that derives from meat or fish and two ingredients that may derive from meat or fish depending on the source. The product also contains animal rennet, which is derived from the stomachs of slaughtered animals, and is commonly found in dairy products.
Another product that is not vegetarian-friendly is the elote chopped salad kit. While the salad itself is vegan, the dressing contains sour cream, which is not suitable for vegetarians due to the presence of bovine gelatin. Bovine gelatin is also present in the garlic cucumber dip, which is another product that seems vegetarian but is not.
The stir-fry sauce is also not suitable for vegetarians due to the presence of natural oyster flavor, which is made with real oysters. This is a similar case with the caramelized onion dip, which contains gelatin in addition to milk and eggs.
It is important for vegetarians and vegans to carefully check the ingredients and labels of products to ensure they are suitable for their dietary preferences and restrictions.
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Bovine gelatin, a thickening agent derived from animal body parts, is added to some products
In addition, Trader Joe's Pecorin Romano & Parmesan Cheese Blend Grated is not vegetarian as it lists one ingredient that derives from meat or fish and two ingredients that could derive from meat or fish depending on the source. The ingredients in question are animal rennet and the cheeses themselves, which are made with animal rennet and pasteurized milk.
It is important to note that the definition of vegetarianism varies among individuals and cultures. Some people who identify as vegetarians may still consume dairy and eggs, while others may have different interpretations of what constitutes a vegetarian diet. Therefore, it is always advisable to carefully read the ingredient labels and make informed choices that align with one's personal dietary preferences and restrictions.
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The Fig app can scan barcodes and flag non-vegetarian ingredients
While some people who follow a vegetarian diet in the US include dairy and eggs, others do not. Parmesan cheese is not always vegetarian, and this is true even of products from Trader Joe's. For example, Trader Joe's Pecorin Romano & Parmesan Cheese Blend Grated is not vegetarian as it contains animal rennet, which is derived from meat.
The Fig app can help users avoid accidentally consuming non-vegetarian ingredients. Users can simply scan a product's barcode, and the app will flag any non-vegetarian ingredients. The app will also recommend similar products that are suitable for vegetarians. This is a useful tool for those who are unsure about the vegetarian status of ingredients such as animal rennet.
Fig is not the only app that offers this service. Spoonful App also allows users to scan barcodes to see trigger ingredients and search for diet-friendly alternatives. This app has been used to identify non-vegetarian ingredients in Trader Joe's products, such as the Pecorin Romano & Parmesan Cheese Blend Grated, which contains animal rennet.
Other Trader Joe's products that seem vegetarian but are not include the elote chopped salad kit (the dressing contains bovine gelatin), the garlic cucumber tzatziki (which also contains bovine gelatin), and the stir-fry sauce (which contains natural oyster flavor).
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Frequently asked questions
No, Trader Joe's Parmesan Cheese is not vegetarian as it contains animal rennet, derived from meat or fish.
Some products that seem vegetarian include the caramelized onion dip, the elote chopped salad kit, and the stir-fry sauce. However, these products contain gelatin, sour cream, and natural oyster flavor, respectively, which are not vegetarian.
Trader Joe's offers several vegetarian-friendly options, including the Outside-In Stuffed Gnocchi, Japchae Noodles, and the Corn & Cheese Arepas.
