EngCan

Hello all,
My husband is vegetarian, anyone know of a vegetarian cheese available at any supermarket?

Last time we were there the labelling wasn't very clear.

Thanks!

scot47

Factory here on Bute produces dairy-free cheese marketed as "Sheese". they export it all over.

https://www.buteisland.com/our-products/

EngCan

Thank you, we dont want vegan cheese though, just vegetarian..

scot47

What is the difference ? I suppose vegetarian cheese is made without any animal-derived rennet.

caretaker

The larger stores are sure to be carrying some, but you'll probably have to go look.
https://vegetatio.com/content/joyous...an-cheese-list

Siouxie

Metro sell quite a lot of vegetarian / vegan foods, including cheeses and this brand https://nutsforcheese.com/where-to-buy/
Loblaws - https://www.loblaws.ca/Food/Deli/Veg...etarian-cheese
Fortinos - https://www.fortinos.ca/Food/Deli-%2...etarian-cheese
https://vegansupply.ca/collections/cheeses
and lots of other places - easier to give you the google search link to see.. even https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=vegan+cheese&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgtez393h7AIVi6_ICh30XAfAEAMYAiAAEgJdnfD_BwE&hvadid=208402930505&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9000873&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1310858802965338564&hvtargid=kwd-297891142553&hydadcr=15826_9600842&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_1kanfo6mq5_e sell it

scilly

I found Sheese in a local fish shop at least 10 years ago, loved 2 of the varieties on sale, including a wonderful imitation Blue cheese. I think I was the only person buying the cheeses though, because they took a long while before telling me that they would not be getting any more in.

Reason??? The regional salesperson refused to take an order costing less than $5,000 ................... not only a lot of money for small store, but also far more cheese than they could sell before Best Before date. He would not accept any reduction in the order.

Since then, I've looked in most of the stores round here that sell non-dairy cheese, including some specialty vegan stores, and none have ever carried Sheese ........................ but I'm not surprised if they are demanding such a high quantity be bought.

No store, small or large, is going to pay $5,000 and have to throw out the product thus losing money.

scilly

What exactly do you mean by "vegetarian" cheese??

Dairy-free is the only kind that I have seen around .............. ie minus the animal product "dairy"

There are now many different kinds of dairy-free cheeses ............... some easily available, some harder to find.

Some are made with soy, some with coconut milk, etc.

One brand I'm currently eating is DAIYA, they make both block and a creamy version (like cream cheese).

Don't expect to find here brands that you have in the UK, apart from that sheese in the posts which appeared then disappeared, all the brands I know are Canadian ................. and the labelling may be different from what you are used to ................. NOT necessarily not "very clear"

old.sparkles

Vegetarians eat / drink dairy, but don't want animal rennet used in the production of cheese. Vegetarian cheese uses non-animal rennet to curdle the milk.

Vegans don't do dairy, so vegan cheeses are different again, and non-dairy.

scilly

Thank you, old.sparkles

I thought many vegetarians avoided any meat, any product made from animals or fish, that was why we see here variants of vegetarianism, ie those that will eat eggs, or eat fish.

old.sparkles

What you describe is vegan - no animal products at all in what they eat, wear and use (think shampoos, cleaning stuffs, etc)

Vegetarians usually eat eggs, dairy, etc but avoid meat and animal derivatives. Pescatarians are vegetarians who eat fish and other seafoods

CanadaJimmy

Most cheese here does say rennet on the ingredients label if it's included, so if it's not there, it is vegetarian cheese. Also the President's Choice branded cheeses (available at Real Canadian Superstore/Loblaws) that are vegetarian even have a "V" on them, such as their swiss cheese.


Also worth noting that most canadian supermarkets have two "cheese areas", one usually in a deli format, where they have more variety of cheeses but more expensive and worse labelling and can be harder to find out exact ingredients, and another area with cheeses prepackaged near the other dairy products yoghurts, milks, etc. - usually a safer bet to go to this dairy area. When my parents visited me one time they were confused by this arrangement and paid a fortune for some imported cheddar cheese, unaware that there was more cheese in another part of the store!

caretaker

A bit from the link I posted above: If you're near a Safeway, or a Whole Foods, or a Costco, it should be easy.

• Cabot cheeses, except American and Mexican Blend, are all vegetarian-friendly (thanks Phil!).
  
• Lucerne (Safeway) brand cheese: the white cheeses are vegetarian, the orange cheeses are not.
  
• All Kirkland Signature (Costco) cheeses EXCEPT PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO AND MANCHEGO are made with microbial rennet and are suitable for vegetarians.
  
• All Laughing Cow cheeses are suitable for vegetarians!
  
• All Great Value cheeses (except cream cheese) are NOT friendly for vegetarians.
  
• *Kraft Grated Parmesan uses microbial rennet, but can occasionally contain lipase, which is animal-derived. Check the label for “lipase” to make sure the cheese is suitable for vegetarians.
  
• According to spicy_butter, all paneer is vegetarian due to the way it’s made.
  
• Not sure if a cheese has rennet? Check out this quick guide.
  

EngCan

thanks for all your help everyone!