Good news for cheese lovers and Italian aficionados – Parmesan is now kosher.
The first wheel of kosher Parmesan – complete with a Star of David stamped on its rind - was revealed at the Milan World’s Fair last week.
Known as the ‘king of Italian cheeses’ Parmesan – or more accurately ‘Parmigiano-Reggiano’ – is made under strict guidelines. these stipulate a minimum ripening period of 12 months and that it must be produced in the area which gave the cheese its name: Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Bologna.
Another guideline – and the one which until now has meant that Parmesan has been off the kosher food lists – says that it must be curdled with animal rennet.