Sometimes. Classic pesto alla genovese is not vegan: its recipe rules call for grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano, plus a pecorino, and Parmigiano Reggiano is made with calf rennet. Cheese-free pesto is sold, so read the ingredient list.
Classic pesto is basil, olive oil, garlic and nuts with grated cheese stirred in, so it is not vegan. Cheese-free pesto is sold too, so read the list.
Classic cheeseParmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano, plus a pecorino
Parmigiano rennetCalf rennet only
Pecorino Romano rennetLamb rennet
Cheese-freeSold, for example Filippo Berio Vegan Basil Pesto
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Where it hides
Jars sold as basil pesto, where the cheese appears only in the list
Whey and whey protein concentrate, as in Buitoni’s basil pesto
Cheese followed by 'enzymes' in brackets, where the coagulant is only called enzymes
Traditional or Genovese wording on the label, which points to the classic recipe
What the classic recipe puts in
The Consorzio del Pesto Genovese’s recipe rules, read on 7 November 2026, list basil, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, optional walnuts and sea salt. The cheese is grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano, plus a pecorino, and the rules give all of them as DOP (protected designation of origin) cheeses. The rules are published on the Mangiare in Liguria site, which carries text the Consorzio supplied.
Why the cheese decides it
Parmigiano Reggiano is set with rennet from a calf. The consortium’s English production rules, read on 7 November 2026, say the curd is formed with calf rennet and nothing else:
Primary source 01 / 06
Milk coagulation, obtained exclusively by the use of calf rennet, takes place in bell-shaped copper vats
As of 7 November 2026, Buitoni’s basil pesto names Parmesan and Romano cheese in its ingredients, followed by reduced lactose whey and whey protein concentrate. The cheese part of its list reads:
Primary source 05 / 06
PARMESAN CHEESE (CULTURED PART-SKIM MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), ROMANO CHEESE (CULTURED PART-SKIM COW’S MILK, SALT, ENZYMES), REDUCED LACTOSE WHEY, WATER, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, PINE NUTS, GARLIC PUREE, WALNUTS, SALT, SPICE.
Two things on that list matter to a vegan. Whey is a by-product of cheesemaking, and the Vegetarian Society says it is only an issue where animal rennet was used in production. The second is the word 'enzymes' in brackets after each cheese. Rennet is an enzyme, so that word can mean rennet, and the list does not say which kind it is.
As of 7 November 2026, Filippo Berio’s classic pesto lists Grana Padano cheese and Pecorino Romano cheese among its main ingredients, with basil, cashews and pine nuts.
Cheese-free pesto
Cheese-free pesto is sold. Filippo Berio’s vegan basil pesto describes itself on the brand’s site like this:
Primary source 06 / 06
A vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free alternative without compromising on flavor.
RennetTraditional rennet is an enzyme taken from the stomach of a slaughtered calf. Plenty of cheese now uses an animal-free version instead, but the label rarely tells you which, and either way the cheese still contains dairy.
WheyWhey is the liquid left when milk curdles, dried into powder. It is milk, so it is not vegan, and it hides in more than protein shakes.
Frequently asked
Is pesto vegan?
Classic pesto is not. Its recipe rules call for cheese, and Parmigiano Reggiano is made with calf rennet. Cheese-free pesto is sold, so read the ingredient list before you buy.
Is pesto vegetarian?
Only if its cheese is. Parmigiano Reggiano is made with calf rennet, and the Vegetarian Society says Parmesan and Grana Padano are never suitable for vegetarians.
Does pesto always contain cheese?
No. Filippo Berio sells a vegan basil pesto that describes itself as dairy-free, while the classic jars from Buitoni and Filippo Berio both list cheese.
Is whey in pesto?
Some is. Buitoni’s basil pesto lists reduced lactose whey and whey protein concentrate. Whey is a by-product of cheesemaking, and the Vegetarian Society says it is only an issue where animal rennet was used in production.
What is calf rennet?
An enzyme taken from the fourth stomach of an unweaned calf, used to set the milk for cheese. The Vegetarian Society describes animal-based rennet this way.
What do 'enzymes' on a cheese label mean?
They can be rennet, which is an enzyme used in cheesemaking. A label that says only 'enzymes' does not say which kind, so the word alone does not tell you whether the cheese is vegetarian.
Which pesto is vegan?
The one whose list has no cheese, whey or other milk ingredient. Filippo Berio’s vegan basil pesto describes itself as dairy-free, and its page prints no ingredient list, so the jar is the check.
The sources
What each verdict rests on. Read them yourself.
Disciplinare del Pesto Genovese · Consorzio del Pesto Genovese (text published by Mangiare in Liguria), n.d. · the ingredients the recipe rules list, in Italian
Il Consorzio del Pesto Genovese · Consorzio del Pesto Genovese (text published by Mangiare in Liguria), n.d. · the consortium supplied the text
Classic Pesto Sauce · Filippo Berio, 2026 · main ingredients: Grana Padano and Pecorino Romano cheese
Vegan Basil Pesto · Filippo Berio, 2026 · the brand's own vegan and dairy-free description
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