5 Dairy-Free Cheeses That Aren’t Your Typical Vegan Cheese
A quality vegan cheese product is perfect for someone transitioning to a vegan diet, and even seasoned vegans enjoy the convenience of a classic grilled cheese made with non-dairy cheddar slices. However, these products are often processed and can be expensive. There are times when we’re in the mood for something with a more streamlined ingredient list and heightened nutritional profile. Plus, you’ll likely save a few dollars. With that in mind, here are five non-dairy cheeses that aren’t your typical sliced, shredded, or gourmet vegan cheese product. But first, here’s more about the cheese industry, and why vegans choose not to eat dairy cheese at all.
Where does cheese come from?
Cheese is a dairy product, usually made with cow’s milk. However, it can also be made with goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, or buffalo milk. Casein and whey are the two main milk proteins used to make cheese. Around the world, more than 264 million cows are farmed to produce dairy products, including cheese. Last year, global production hit more than 22 million metric tons.
Why vegans don’t eat cheese
Many vegans choose to eat plant-based cheese or products that taste cheesy (like those listed below), for animal welfare reasons. On dairy farms, female cows are artificially inseminated repeatedly because they can only produce milk if they have a calf. After the calves are born, they are taken away from their mother, often within 24 hours (but the time can be as short as one hour), so that farmers can take the milk. According to Animal Equality, most cows on US dairy farms (more than 90 percent) are confined to cramped, indoor operations.
But the dairy industry isn’t just associated with poor animal welfare, it’s also bad for the planet. Animal agriculture is linked with a multitude of environmental issues, including water pollution, air pollution, and rising greenhouse gasses. According to the UN, the entire livestock industry is responsible for 14.5 percent of…
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