Is Cheese Considered Meat or Dairy? The Definitive Guide to Food Classification

November 30, 2025 •

3 min read

Cheesemaking dates back to ancient civilizations as a method of preserving milk. This long history of production from milk is the key to understanding the question: is cheese considered meat or dairy? The definitive answer lies in how these food groups are fundamentally defined.

Quick Summary

Cheese is unequivocally classified as a dairy product, as it is derived from the milk of mammals, not the flesh of an animal. Meat is animal flesh, while dairy consists of milk and its derivatives, including yogurt and cheese.

Key Points

Source: Cheese is made from milk, a product derived from mammals like cows, goats, and sheep, which firmly places it in the dairy category.
Composition: It is a fermented food product composed of the concentrated protein (casein) and fat from milk.
Not Meat: Meat is the edible flesh of an animal, which is biologically and culinarily distinct from milk and cheese.
The Rennet Factor: Some traditional cheeses use animal-derived rennet for coagulation, making them non-vegetarian, but modern vegetarian versions exist.
Vegan Exception: Vegans do not consume dairy products, so conventional cheese is excluded from a vegan diet. Plant-based cheese substitutes are available.
Food Grouping: According to food organizations like the USDA, cheese is a core component of the Dairy Group.

The Fundamental Distinction Between Meat and Dairy

To understand whether is cheese considered meat or dairy, one must first grasp the biological and culinary definitions of these two distinct food groups. The difference is based on their origin and production process.

What is Dairy?

Dairy refers to foods derived from the milk of mammals, most commonly cows, goats, and sheep. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially recognizes cheese as a dairy product. Other examples of dairy products include yogurt, butter, and cream. The process of creating cheese involves concentrating milk's casein, proteins, and fats by separating them from the liquid whey.

What is Meat?

Meat is defined as the edible flesh of an animal. This includes the muscle, fat, and organs of animals like cattle, poultry, and fish. It is a product obtained by slaughter, not a byproduct of a living animal, which is the key difference from dairy. Vegetarians abstain from eating meat, but many, specifically lacto-vegetarians, continue to consume dairy products like cheese.

The Cheesemaking Process: Why It's All Dairy

The process of making cheese solidifies its classification as dairy. It involves several key steps:

Acidification: Starter cultures of bacteria are added to milk. These bacteria convert the milk's lactose into lactic acid, lowering the pH and beginning the curdling process.
Coagulation: An enzyme called rennet is introduced to help the milk proteins (casein) coagulate and form a gel-like curd. This step sometimes introduces confusion regarding animal products, as traditional rennet is sourced from the stomachs of young calves. However, vegetarian rennet from microbial sources is widely available and used today, especially in cheeses marked as vegetarian.
Separating Curds and Whey: The curd is cut, and the liquid whey is drained away. The size of the cut affects the hardness of the final cheese.
Salting and Shaping: The curds are salted for flavor and preservation, then pressed into molds to form the final cheese shape.
Aging: The cheese is left to ripen for a period ranging from months to years, developing its unique flavor and texture.

This entire process uses milk and its components, without any animal flesh, cementing its dairy status.

The Vegetarian and Vegan Caveat

While cheese is not meat, it's not always a vegetarian product. The use of animal-derived rennet in some traditional cheesemaking means that certain cheeses are not suitable for lacto-vegetarians, though the practice is becoming less common with the rise of microbial rennet. For vegans, who abstain from all animal byproducts, traditional cheese is never an option, as it is made with animal milk. Vegan cheese alternatives, made from plant proteins, oils, and thickeners, exist to provide a dairy-free option.

Cheese vs. Meat: A Comparison Table


Feature	Cheese	Meat
Primary Source	Milk (from cows, goats, sheep, etc.)	Flesh of an animal (muscle, fat, organs)
Method of Production	Coagulation and fermentation of milk	Slaughter of an animal
Key Components	Milk proteins (casein), milk fat	Animal protein, fat
Animal Required	No, but derived from an animal byproduct (milk)	Yes, is the animal's flesh itself
Rennet Issue	Some traditional cheeses may contain animal rennet, making them non-vegetarian	Not applicable
Vegan Friendly?	No, as it's a dairy product	No, as it is the flesh of an animal

Conclusion: A Clear Distinction

The classification of cheese as a dairy product is based on both its source and production. Cheese is made from milk, a secretion from a living animal, not its flesh. While the nuance of animal versus microbial rennet can affect whether a cheese is strictly vegetarian, it does not change the fact that cheese, in its conventional form, is a concentrated and fermented milk product. The distinction is clear: cheese is dairy, and meat is animal flesh. A full understanding of food categorization is essential for dietary choices, especially for those following vegetarian or vegan diets, or for individuals with lactose intolerance. For more information on dairy nutrition, refer to the USDA's MyPlate website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, cheese is a significant source of protein, along with other nutrients like calcium and phosphorus. A typical serving can contribute substantially to your daily protein intake.

To determine if a cheese is vegetarian, you must check the ingredient list for the type of rennet used. Look for labels that say 'vegetarian rennet' or 'microbial rennet,' as traditional rennet is animal-based.

Cheese is not vegan because it is a dairy product, meaning it is derived from the milk of an animal. Vegans avoid all animal and animal-derived products, including milk.

No, not all cheese is lactose-free. The amount of lactose varies significantly. Hard, aged cheeses like Parmesan have very low lactose, while fresher cheeses like cottage cheese have more.

Vegetarian cheese is a dairy product that uses non-animal rennet, making it free from animal slaughter byproducts. Vegan cheese is entirely plant-based and contains no dairy or animal derivatives at all.

No, cheese made from any type of milk, including goat's milk, is a dairy product. It is derived from the animal's milk, not its flesh.

The confusion may stem from the fact that cheese is an animal byproduct and some varieties use animal rennet, leading some to incorrectly associate it with meat. The distinction, however, is clear based on whether the product comes from an animal's flesh or its milk.