Non vegetarian cheese present for a vegetarian

[Neolara]

I've been veggie for over 30 years, married for nearly 20. My in laws are very nice. Recently, my in laws have taken to sending my a selection of cheese from posh cheese shops for my birthday and Xmas. The cheese is not cheap. Each box probably costs about £30 -£40 for 4 cheeses. However, usually most of the cheeses are not vegetarian so I haven't eaten them. This Xmas, my DH asked my in laws to make sure the cheese was vegetarian. A box of cheese has just arrived. It looks fantastic but again, only one of the four is veggie. I will only eat this one cheese. My DH will probably eat all the rest of the cheese.

So I haven't said anything to the in laws other than thank you very much because it seems incredibly rude to do anything else. But on the other hand, they think they are giving me a brilliant present but it's really not. I feel like they are wasting their money as I won't eat the vast majority of it. And from looking at the shops website, they could easily have bought veggie cheese. So not saying anything seems stupid.

So, YANBU - Of course you shouldn't say anything other than thank you very much. It's the thought that counts.
YABU -Of course you should tell your lovely in laws that if they buy you cheese it needs to be veggie cheese so they'll just keep wasting their money.

And yes, I totally appreciate this is a first world problem.

Do you mean vegan?
I would assume a vegetarian would eat normal cheese, whereas a vegan wouldn’t?

Your partner should raise it for them - 'Thanks so much for the cheese you bought Neolara! Unfortunately some of them weren't vegetarian but I enjoyed them, and she loved the one that was!' Sorted.

What cheese isn't vegetarian??

It would probably come across better if your husband complained to them - again - but if that doesn't work, of course you should point it out.

If the cheese isn't vegetarian, your in laws might as well send you a selection of meats.

@SpellBounds

What cheese isn't vegetarian??

I think it depends whether they use rennet or not?

@Glitterkitten24

Do you mean vegan? I would assume a vegetarian would eat normal cheese, whereas a vegan wouldn’t?

A lot of cheese has animal rennet in from the lining of an animals stomach so it's not about the dairy

Surely you mean Vegan, all cheese is suitable for vegetarians.

@SpellBounds

What cheese isn't vegetarian??

Any with animal rennet.

As above most people who are not vegetarian do not understand about rennet. You really need to explain this to non vegetarians if you don't eat it, it's not common knowledge

@Glitterkitten24

Do you mean vegan? I would assume a vegetarian would eat normal cheese, whereas a vegan wouldn’t?

Many cheeses (especially those with a DoC, such as Parmesan) are made using animal rennet and aren't, therefore, vegetarian.

@SpellBounds

What cheese isn't vegetarian??

Parmesan isn’t as it is made with rennet (calf stomach). Some other posh cheese also has rennet in so wouldn’t be veggie friendly.

@glitterkitten24 many cheeses have animal rennet in them, ie dead animal parts so vegetarians won't eat them. Traditional parmesan for example is by definition not vegetarian.
Its the same as jelly normally having gelatin and thus not being suitable for vegetarian.
Vegans don't eat dairy - so won't eat any normal cheese.
Vegetarians don't eat dead animal - so won't eat cheese with rennet and thus will eat many normal cheeses and can enjoy cheese boards if they're careful.

@PinkWaferBiscuit

Surely you mean Vegan, all cheese is suitable for vegetarians.

No it isn’t, a lot of cheese (particularly hard cheese) contains rennet from the stomach of a dead calf.

Your inlaws are no more ignorant than many posters on this thread; some cheese is made with rennet which comes from the lining of a calf's stomach. Other cheese makers use a vegetarian alternative.

@PinkWaferBiscuit No it's not. Google 'calf stomach cheese'.

@Glitterkitten24

Do you mean vegan? I would assume a vegetarian would eat normal cheese, whereas a vegan wouldn’t?

Not all cheeses are veneration. Some have animal rennet etc.

OP, you are not unreasonable at all. Mention it in passing to them. Good intentions all around but the outcome needs to be corrected.

Alot of people won't know what to look for in cheese for it not to be vegetarian. Just ask for no cheese next time.

@PinkWaferBiscuit

Surely you mean Vegan, all cheese is suitable for vegetarians.

No she means vegetarian. Not all cheese is vegetarian.

Vegetarians eat cheese

Do you mean you're a vegan?

You can't blame anyone if you haven't told them you're vegan

I’m veggie and in this situation I wouldn’t say anything because as DH is enjoying the cheeses they’re not going to waste. If they were getting thrown away because you were both veggie I’d say something.
This thread has already shown that most people don’t understand why some cheeses aren’t vegetarian (because of animal rennet).

@PinkWaferBiscuit

Surely you mean Vegan, all cheese is suitable for vegetarians.

This isn't true. Many cheeses are made with animal rennet and are not vegetarian.

@Willyoujustbequiet

Vegetarians eat cheese

Do you mean you're a vegan?

You can't blame anyone if you haven't told them you're vegan

The OP isn’t a vegan. She is a vegetarian. Not all cheese is vegetarian as some is made with calf stomach.

Had no idea so much cheese contained animal rennet. Suppose every day is a school day.

If it's bothering you that much I would ask them to cancel, I suspect like many people they think cheese is fine for vegetarians.

Many cheeses are not vegetarian. Most supermarket ones are though

@Willyoujustbequiet

Vegetarians eat cheese

Do you mean you're a vegan?

You can't blame anyone if you haven't told them you're vegan

Vegetarians do not eat cheese that contains the stomach lining of a dead animal.