We’d like veggies to have a nice cheesy smile on their face when eating out, watching cookery programmes or reading recipes – but there’s a problem: Often dishes and products claiming to be vegetarian use Parmesan.

Parmesan/Parmigiano-Reggiano is an EU Protected Designation of Origin product and has to be made using calf rennet, so it’s definitely not suitable for vegetarians.

Businesses, chefs, journalists and restaurant owners

Make sure your dishes are vegetarian:

• leave out the Parmesan/Parmigiano-Reggiano
• don’t call dishes using Parmesan/Parmigiano-Reggiano vegetarian
• use a vegetarian alternative
• label clearly, if you are using a vegetarian cheese be proud and say so.

Cheesed off veggies - help spread the word

We've produced a set of handy wallet-sized Say Cheese cards which can be given to businesses, shops, media or restaurants using Parmesan in their veggie dishes. The cards explain that Parmesan isn't vegetarian and offers ways to keep veggie customers happy.  Please help spread the word.

Order your Say Cheese cards

Each sheet contains 6 of the wallet sized cards. You can order sheets by filling in the order form or contacting us directly on 0161 925 2000. You can also download the cards for free.

Say cheese

If you have distributed the Say Cheese cards we'd love to know who you've given/sent them to and what the outcome was just email saycheese@vegsoc.org