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Parmesan - the 'king of cheese' - is now kosher

November 3, 2015 15:27
Kosher King: The first wheel of kosher Parmesan (Picture: Igino Morini/Consorzio Parmigiano-Reggiano)

By

Jessica Weinstein,

Jessica Weinstein

1 min read

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.