Jan 26 2009
Animal cruelty stories of the week…and what the heck is rennet?
Not a day goes by without reports of animal cruelty throughout the United States. Here are just a few these past days -
Temecula, CA - 67 year old man in jail for suspected animal cruelty after animal control officers found over 300 malnourished or dead dogs and cats at his trailer home. Responding to a call over a vicious dog, the officers found and followed two dogs, which led them to a pile of dead dogs. Some had been eaten by other dogs. 204 carcasses were found in black trash bags in sheds and barrels. It took officers some 12 hours to remove all the animals.
Cecil County, MD - Investigation has begun into the Cecil County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where, ironically, animal cruelty is suspected. Former employees and volunteers reported seeing abuses, including animal control officers shooting or incinerating live dogs that didn’t succumb to euthanasia.
Houston, TX - Harris County District Attorney Particia Lykes vowed to stop the dumping of dogs killed in illegal dogfighting operations. “They dump injured dogs and dead dogs. This will no longer be a cemetery for dead dogs,” she declared.
Knox County, KY - Couple indicted on 16 counts of animal cruelty. The case of Earl Enlow, 24, and Melaine Rogers, 22, began last September when animal control officers found numerous dead and malnourished animals on their property. At least one horse, rabbit, and cat were found dead, along with 5 dogs and 3 roosters. Officers seized 13 live dogs and 6 horses, many of which were malnourished.
I think most people would agree the above stories, (especially the 204 carcasses in trash bags), are revolting. But what about when animal cruelty is done in the name of “gourment” food? That brings us to the question - what the heck is rennet? Essentially it is enzymes used in the production of cheese.
According to Wisegeek, “Rennet is an extract from the fourth stomach of young ruminants, such as cows, goats, and sheep. This extract contains a number of enzymes which are designed to help these animals digest their mother’s milk, and when added to milk, rennet will cause the milk to coagulate, forming the curds and whey which are so essential in the cheesemaking process.”
Mostly it comes from the stomachs of baby cows, like this little guy - 
and these stomachs are a by product of making veal. Normally the baby cows are taken away from their mothers within two or three days of their birth. Often they are kept chained in small crates so they cannot move. Since they can’t use their muscles, it keeps the meat nice and tender.
When they are slaughtered, the stomachs are taken and the rennet is used in cheesemaking. Most cheeses on the market are made in this fashion, but not all. It is very difficult to tell, however, as ingredients normally just have “enzymes” listed, without the source.
Vegetable and microbial rennet can also be used in place of the stomach enzymes. The only store I know who labels their cheeses as “Vegetarian” and “Traditional” rennet is Whole Foods. (whose founder happens to be a libertarian vegan ) For those of you who cannot give up cheese but perhaps don’t want to eat the by-product of killing baby cows, here is the best listing I could find of vegetarian cheeses.
