When I first started my journey of eating biblically clean, I thought I was doing great. I wasn’t picking up pork chops or eating bowls of cocktail shrimp. But then I learned something that shocked me: some cheese is made using pigs.
Say what?? Pork in Cheese??
I was shocked. It turns out the enemy has hidden unclean things in almost anything you can think of. Many cheeses are technically unclean based on how they are curdled, and it all comes down to a tiny ingredient called rennet.
The Rennet Secret
Traditionally, milk is turned into cheese using an enzyme called rennet. This enzyme is often extracted from the stomach lining of animals like calves, goats, or lambs.
The problem is that if the animal was unclean or wasn’t slaughtered according to biblical standards, the cheese becomes unclean. Even worse, some rennet comes from the intestines of pigs. Scripture is very clear about the pigs.
“And the pig… is unclean to you. You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.” – Leviticus 11:7-8
If the cheese is touching the lining of an unclean animal during the process it is considered unclean.
Finding Clean Cheese
The good news is that you don’t have to give up cheese! You just have to become a label detective. Thankfully, we don’t have to call every manufacturer anymore. Just look for these terms on the package:
Microbial Rennet: Made from yeast or mold (plant-based/vegetarian).
Vegetable Rennet: Made from plants like thistles or fig leaves.
Animal Rennet: This is the one to avoid if you want to be 100% sure it’s clean.
Look for the Hechshers
If you see a small symbol on your food, it’s a simple and effective way to know if it’s safe. These are called Hechshers. While there are over 1,100 certification agencies, you’ll mostly see one of the “Big Five” kosher certifications mostly used on the front or back of your packages.
What is a Kosher Certification?
Think of these agencies as a seal of approval. They are organizations that visit food factories to verify that every ingredient and piece of machinery complies with biblical dietary laws (Kashrut). They even send representatives, called mashgichim, to do surprise site visits to make sure the standards stay high.
The most common symbols you’ll see is the OU (a ‘U’ in a circle), it is the most common symbol in the world. And In the U.S., look for the OU, OK, KOF-K, Star-K, and CRC. These five agencies certify more than 80% of the kosher food sold in the country!
Next time you’re at the grocery store, take a second to be the label detective you are, and search for any of these symbols on package of that cheese. It’s a small step, but it’s a powerful way to honor the Father in the little things of our daily lives.
Sources
Kosher Certification agencies – Wikipedia
5 Things to Know About Microbial Rennet – Standing Stone Farm
Kosher Cheese – Orthodox Union
Bible Gateway (CJB Translation) – Leviticus 11:7-8
