Is Organic Feta Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing the label of standard Organic Feta, we see a short list of ingredients: Pasteurized Organic Sheep's Milk, Salt, Rennet, and Lactic Culture. While the 'organic' label ensures the sheep were raised without synthetic hormones and fed organic feed, the biological source of the product remains the same.

The primary flag for a vegan diet is Pasteurized Organic Sheep's Milk. Regardless of how it is sourced, milk taken from an animal (in this case, sheep) is not compatible with a vegan lifestyle. The second major flag is Rennet. Traditional feta relies on rennet, an enzyme complex derived from the stomach lining of young ruminants (like calves or lambs) to coagulate the milk. While some cheeses use microbial or vegetable rennet, traditional feta almost exclusively uses animal rennet to achieve its specific texture.

The remaining ingredients, Salt and Lactic Culture, are generally considered vegan. Lactic cultures are bacteria used to ferment the milk. However, because the base substrate is sheep's milk and the coagulant is animal-based, the final product is strictly non-vegan.

Nutritional Value

Organic Feta is a calorie-dense food, primarily due to its fat content. A standard serving contains a significant amount of saturated fat and sodium, which is typical for brined cheeses. It is relatively low in carbohydrates and sugar, as the fermentation process consumes the milk sugar (lactose).

On the positive side, feta is a good source of protein and calcium. Because it is organic, you avoid pesticide residues often found in conventional dairy. However, for those strictly monitoring cholesterol or saturated fat intake, this cheese should be consumed in moderation. It fits into a whole-food diet but is not a 'light' option.