vegan cheese: My mom and step dad are hebrew and they are limiting my food resources. They celebrate the Shabbat on fridays and saturdays. They watch live broadcast on the computer on hebrew speeches idk >_> And they said they heard him saying that cheese have an enzymes in it. They said certain cheeses like crafts cheese have pork in it. Enzymes from pigs. So now I have to start eating vegan cheese which has no taste in it blech!!! So a week later them watching the shabbat they say that now pop tart has pork in it because it has jellyton in it. Now im pissed. I LOVE POP TARTS. They said that it has enzymes from pigs to!! And no they are saying some milk might have pork in it to. **** ENZYMES. Is all of this true???|||Someday you're going to have more choices and you'll have to rely on yourself to make these choices. Many people - vegans in particular - severely limit food and lifestyle choices. Many people, me included, consider them extremists. Do you consider Orthodox Jews to be extremists? If they think they're made with pork then they are made with pork - no matter how minute - unless you have proof they'll accept to the contrary. I'd let them know of my opinions, they may or may not appreciate that, but as long as they're paying the piper they can call the tune. Someday you'll have more choices! .|||To add to Crying Emoticon, you have to find out how the cheese is made. Some cheeses are made with vegetable rennet. You may have to buy it from specialty or gourmet grocery stores so you can find out how it's made, but then at least you won't have to eat the vegan kind.|||And most people think that only Muslims don't eat pork! Do your research or do you really want to be an orthodox Jew?|||Buy all your food from a Kosher store and you won't have to worry.|||Definitions The Jewish religion incorporates within its tenets a regimen of dietary laws. These laws determine which food is acceptable and in conformity with Jewish Law. The word kosher is an adaptation of the Hebrew word meaning fit or proper. It refers to foodstuffs that meet the dietary requirements of Jewish Law. There is a prevalent misconception that kosher reflects the conferring of a blessing on food by a Rabbi. There is no truth to this whatsoever. Jewish ritual does require the recitation of a blessing prior to the consumption of food as a gesture of appreciation and acknowledgment of the Divine source of sustenance. However, this requirement applies to everyone, not just a Rabbi. This has no connection with kosher requirements or status. The barometer of kosher and non-kosher depends on two variables: the source of the ingredients and the status of the production equipment. Kosher certification, which is the guarantee that the food meets kosher requirements, revolves around these two criteria. Sources The guidelines for the sources of kosher and non-kosher materials originate in the Bible. The interpretations and decisions of the Rabbis of the post-Biblical era have added detail, organization, and explanation to these dietary laws. In the main, prohibited sources include all flesh of animals which lack either split hooves or do not chew the cud. This category includes pork. Poultry and meat are permissible from animals that are slaughtered by humane methods dictated by Jewish Law and carried out by specially trained ritual slaughterers. The only types of fish permitted are those that have both fins and scales. This requirement would exclude seafood such as shrimp and lobster. All natural grape derivatives have special kosher considerations. Since wine has sacramental significance in Jewish ritual, the Rabbis enacted laws regarding its acceptability and use. All natural grape products must come from grape juice that has been supervised from start to finish. Only these grape products can be certified and approved as kosher. Cheese products such as Cheddar, Muenster, Swiss, and the like, can be certified kosher only if produced under constant supervision. It is common practice for cheese manufacturers to use rennet derived from non-kosher sources as a coagulant. Kosher cheese must be produced with kosher microbial coagulants to satisfy kosher requirements. For this reason, supervision of kosher cheese production was made a standard prerequisite. Products of fruit and vegetable derivation are approved for kosher use, providing there is no insect infestation. http://www.simpletoremember.com/articles鈥?/a> (see this link and learn about all that is below) Why Keep Kosher? Why Keep Kosher? | The Reasons for Keeping Kosher Contents * Foreword * The Laws of Kashrut o Animal Products 1. Kosher Animals 2. Slaughtered 3. Treifot 4. Parts of Animals 5. Milk and Meat o Agricultural Products 1. Orlah 2. Tithes o Sociological Problems 1. Wine and Grape-Juice Products 2. Milk Products 3. Processed Foods * Reasons for the Commandments o Does the authority of a commandment rely upon our comprehension of its rationale? o Do all the commandments have reasons that are comprehensible to the human mind? o How is it possible for a human being to attribute reasons and motives to G-d's will? o What is the purpose of studying the reasons for the commandments? * Rationale of the Dietary Laws o Self-Control and Discipline o Developing Kindness o Reminder of Food Coming from Living and Dead Animals o Justice o Symbolism of Kosher Animals o Distinct Nation o Self-Esteem and Dignity * Conclusion|||Some of this is true, dear. The cheese, some of it has something called rennett in it. This is an enzyme from pigs.... Geletin comes from the hooves of animals, pig or not, but I believe you are forbidden from anything hooved.... I think that the crust of the poptart may be made with lard, which is the pig fat... Milk has enzymes but only from a cow.... You need to check the box for the kosher symbol... My ex boyfriend is Muslim, so we did not eat pork products either.... if you like Jello, there is a Kosher jello that you can buy at the health food store, and it is made of carageenan, which is like gelatin, but comes from seaweed... Good luck