this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025
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Biology

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[–] sanity_is_maddening@piefed.social 46 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I keep saying for a while that Precision Fermentation is the future. Because if it isn't, that probably means there isn't one.

Using the lowest trophic level possible to grow our sustenance directly is the only way to ensure the least destruction possible. Which ensures the most environmental and ethical efficacy. As there should never be anything to distinguish between them in the first place.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 3 months ago

i for one plan to directly conjure cheese from the ether

[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 29 points 3 months ago (3 children)

No mention of lactose.

Plant based, lactose free milk and cheese would be amazing.

No idea why they'd intentionally add lactose, so I assume it would just be naturally lactose free.

[–] turdas@suppo.fi 37 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Lactose plays a role in cheese making as it is fermented by bacteria.

[–] teft@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

You can replace it with other cultures. Anything that can convert a sugar into lactic acid and you could use a milk that lacked lactose to make normal cheese. Or you can make a cheese with out the lactic acid. It will just taste a bit different.

[–] Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca 13 points 3 months ago (2 children)

as someone who loves cheese way too much, lactose free cheese has something off about it. it's just not cheese. not saying it's bad, but it just ain't cheese.

[–] rbos@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Lactose has a specific mouthfeel in beers, so I buy it would change cheeses dramatically.

[–] buffing_lecturer@leminal.space 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)
[–] rbos@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 months ago

Sometimes! Lactose is not easily fermentable, so it leaves residual sugars and a unique silky feel. Mostly in darker beers, like milk stouts or chocolate porters.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 3 points 3 months ago

And what you absolutely don't want in beer is lactose fermenting bacteria. It gives it a cleaning rag stench.

[–] zergtoshi@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

If the cheese aged for enough time, it's getting practically lactose free in the process.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Casein is the primary protein in milk, and it has a ton of uses. Humans have been consuming animal milks for a very long time, and milk is a key ingredient in a lot of food. Baking, emulsifying, cooking, fermenting, it's the casein that makes the milk magic.

Some people can be allergic to casein, but far more lack the digestive enzyme to break down lactose. Lactose is what the yeast and bacteria ferment with in cheese and yogurt, but casein is the protein that holds it all together. Conceivably, you could use a different sugar and still get something that sort of resembles cheese and yogurt, but you have a much harder time replacing the casein.

[–] kayohtie@pawb.social 4 points 3 months ago

A local friend has the casein allergy. It sucks, cause there's a lot of baked goods and food in general she can't have. I struggle sometimes in baking becaus even butter contains it, and plant butters never quite perfectly match with real butter.

At least plant-based heavy cream works well enough. Lacks the dairy taste but it still works and whips nicely even in a cream whipper.

[–] remon@ani.social 12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I'm not looking for a cheese alternative. I want the exact same cheese as it is now, just without the need for a cow. So it better have lactose.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 15 points 3 months ago

I'm just used to going without dairy at this point, but it would be great to have an alternative available.

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 3 points 3 months ago

Probably won't help people with an allergy, rather than lactose intolerance or a lifestyle preference.

[–] RedGreenBlue@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

When this becomes cheap; cows go extinct.

[–] Zozano@aussie.zone 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Did you forget about beef? Rodeo enthusiasts? Leather makers?

[–] Outwit1294@lemmy.today 2 points 3 months ago

Similar progress will happen in other products when they see the market

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

No no, farmers will then raise millions of cows as beloved pets to live long and happy lives with no expectation of profit.

[–] bathing_in_bismuth@sh.itjust.works -2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Milk totally equals just casein. Nothing more.

[–] crazyminner@lemmy.ml 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

There's also an "acceptable" amount of puss and blood.

[–] bathing_in_bismuth@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] crazyminner@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Ah yes. Cooked puss and blood.

I also forgot to mention suffering the mom and child go through so humans can drink cow tit juice.

[–] bathing_in_bismuth@sh.itjust.works -4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The suffering ur mom went through to give you tit juice. You're not even grateful

[–] crazyminner@lemmy.ml 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Exactly. My Mom not someone else's mom. My mom chose/consent to give me her milk. When you buy cows milk you're stealing a baby cow from her mom to be slaughtered, and then stealing her milk like some sicko.

No kink shaming. Mommy milk is always good.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 3 months ago

Not sure if sarcastic, but there's a lot more to milk. Lactose, lipids, emulsifiers...