Ida, 21, came across a shocking revelation after purchasing what she thought were vegetarian meals from the brand Garant. Upon arriving home, she discovered that the meals contained enzymes derived from calf stomachs. The website of Garant advertised these meals as vegetarian, leading Ida to feel misled.
She expressed her disappointment with Garant, stating that there are various ways to obtain enzymes from calves, some of which involve animal cruelty. Ida reached out to Garant for an explanation but received no response. As a result, she no longer trusts the company and will not be purchasing their vegetarian meals in the future.
In response to the situation, Axfood, the owner of Garant, confirmed that several of their products contain animal rennet. They explained that the term ”vegetarian” has broad interpretations, including products that contain milk and, in some cases, eggs. They also mentioned that if they were to label a product as ”vegetarian,” they would provide an explanation on the back of the packaging regarding its lacto-ovo-vegetarian status.
Garant further justified their use of animal rennet, stating that it is necessary for producing traditional cheese. They clarified that their products are not vegan and include cheese, as indicated by the product names and ingredient lists.
Overall, Ida’s experience has raised concerns about the accuracy of product labeling and the need for clearer distinctions between different types of vegetarian and vegan products.
