By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS
\nVRG Research Director<\/p>\n
The VRG received an email from a reader who was told in a July 2013 email by a Domino\u2019s customer care representative that \u201cThe Pacific Veggie pizza uses cheeses that do contain animal rennet.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Domino\u2019s website, the Pacific Veggie Pizza contains roasted red peppers, fresh baby spinach, fresh onions, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, black olives, cheeses made with 100% real mozzarella, feta and provolone, sprinkled with garlic herb seasoning, on a cheesy Parmesan-Asiago crust.<\/p>\n
The VRG spoke with three quality assurance specialists at Domino\u2019s in November 2013 to confirm the latest information on all of Domino\u2019s pizza ingredients. One quality assurance program leader told us on the phone when we asked if Domino\u2019s used animal rennet: \u201cNo animal rennet is ever used in Domino\u2019s cheese; it\u2019s too expensive as you well know.\u201d<\/p>\n
We learned from a quality assurance specialist in charge of managing cheeses who confirmed information from her suppliers for us that \u201c\u2026Domino\u2019s shredded provolone, pizza cheese (mozzarella), and feta cheeses are made with rennet derived from a non-animal source. Parm\/Asiago blend (the cheese applied to the Hand Tossed crust for Pacific Veggie) contains lipase enzyme from an animal source, but the rennet is derived from a non-animal source. Parmesan shake-on (grated parm) rennet is non-animal sourced and does not contain lipase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vegetarian and vegan diners at Domino\u2019s who would like to avoid the Parmesan-Asiago cheese blend have several options. Pizzas at Domino\u2019s can be custom-ordered without cheese. According to a Domino\u2019s quality assurance specialist:<\/p>\n
\u201cAmerican Legends® theme pizzas (including Pacific Veggie) can be ordered with any crust. Gluten Free and Thin Crust do not contain dairy ingredients in the dough formula. The other crust choices (Hand Tossed, Brooklyn Style, and Pan) do contain dairy ingredients in the dough.All American Legends® theme pizzas, including the Pacific Veggie build, include cheese applied to the crust rim when made with Hand Tossed dough. If there is concern, the consumer ordering can specify \u2018no cheese on crust rim.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
According to another senior-level quality assurance program leader at Domino\u2019s who spoke with us on the phone, \u201cnon-animal\u201d L-cysteine is a dough conditioner used in the following crusts: Brooklyn, Handmade Pan and Hand Tossed crusts.<\/p>\n
On its website, Domino\u2019s lists its ingredients: https:\/\/order.dominos.com\/en\/pages\/content\/nutritional\/ingredients.jsp<\/a>. The Gluten Free crust is the only pizza crust that contains honey. According to the online ingredient statement, Domino\u2019s pizza sauce contains \u201ctomato puree (water, tomato paste), sugar, salt, spices, The contents of this article, our website, and our other publications, including the Vegetarian Journal<\/a>, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company employees or company statements. Information does change and mistakes are always possible. Please use your own best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. Further research or confirmation may be warranted.<\/p>\n
\ngarlic, soybean oil, and citric acid.\u201d The Hearty Marinara Sauce contains chicken juices and chicken fat.<\/p>\n