By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

VRG blog commenter Nirav asked us in June 2021 for “…an update…and latest information…” on Domino’s Pacific Veggie Pizza. He referred to our 2013 article titled “Parmesan-Asiago Cheese on Domino’s Pacific Veggie Pizza Contains Animal-Derived Lipase.”

We first reached out to Domino’s in July 2021 through its website contact form. Here is what we asked:

“Does the Pacific Veggie Pizza contain any cheese made with animal enzymes, including rennet or lipase? The information on your ingredients page states there are three cheeses in this pizza: provolone, mozzarella, and feta, but specific enzyme types and sources aren’t given.”

For interested readers, here is the complete ingredient statement for the Pacific Veggie Pizza posted on the Domino’s Pizza website. Bolded words are theirs:

“Provolone Cheese [Shredded Provolone Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Nonfat Milk, Sodium Propionate (Added As A Preservative)], Pizza Sauce [Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Salt, Spices, Garlic, Soybean Oil, and Citric Acid], Pizza Cheese [Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cultures, Salt, Enzymes, Modified Food Starch, Cellulose (Added to Prevent Caking), Nonfat Milk, Whey Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Sodium Propionate (Added as a Preservative)], Spinach, Feta Cheese [Cultured Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Enzymes, Potato Starch (Added To Prevent Caking)], Fresh Mushrooms, Fresh Yellow Onions, Roasted Red Peppers [Red Peppers, Water, Salt, Citric Acid, Calcium Chloride], Diced Tomatoes [Fresh Vine-Ripened California Tomatoes, Tomato Juice, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Citric Acid], Black Olives [Ripe Olives, Water, Salt, Ferrous Gluconate (added to stabilize color)], Garlic & Herb Shake-On [Garlic, Onion, Spices, (Black Pepper, Fennel, Parsley, Basil, Bay Leaves, Marjoram, Oregano, Savory, Thyme, Red Pepper, Coriander, Cumin, Mustard, Rosemary, and Celery Seed), *Carrot, *Orange Peel, Natural Flavor, Flavor, (Natural Flavoring, Soy Lecithin), And No Greater Than 2% Soybean Oil Added As A Processing Aid. *Dehydrated].”

A few days later we received the following email response from Katie of Domino’s Customer Support:

“Domino’s pizza cheese (mozzarella) is made with a microbial rennet. As far as our other cheeses, Domino’s purchases from many suppliers and does not specify the source of all ingredients. The source could vary from time to time based on availability.

L-cysteine and the enzymes in our hand tossed dough are microbial based. We use sweet dairy whey and it is a byproduct of milk from cows.

Most of the products Domino’s serves (such as pizza cheese or sandwich bread) do not contain animal derived enzymes. The Alfredo sauce does contain enzymes from a beef source.

All enzymes used in this cheese are from a non-animal source.”

Note from The VRG: The sentence in the quote above from Katie in Domino’s Customer Support is bolded by The VRG for emphasis. The Spinach & Feta pizza at Domino’s contains the Alfredo sauce made with beef enzymes.

The VRG wanted more information about the part of Katie’s response where she had stated that “…All enzymes used in this cheese are from a non-animal source.”

It is not clear which cheese(s) she was referring to in that sentence.

So we replied to Katie asking for more clarification on this point. We wanted to know if she were talking about one or more of the three cheeses in the Pacific Veggie Pizza.

This time, Ramea of Domino’s Customer Support replied by repeating:

“All of the enzymes in our mozzarella cheese are from a non-animal source. As far as our other cheeses, Domino’s purchases from many suppliers and does not specify the source of all ingredients. The source could vary from time to time based on availability.”

Cheese Enzymes on Domino’s Pacific Veggie Pizza

Still unclear from the lack of specificity in the answer, we extended our reach back to three mid- and senior-level employees who had helped us with Domino’s ingredient information in years prior to our 2013 article. Although they were no longer with the company, we managed to reach a few employees in the quality assurance and menu and product development departments at Domino’s.

The VRG asked them:

“In 2013, Carey Allen, a Quality Assurance Specialist at Domino’s, wrote to us:

‘..Domino’s 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.

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 ‘no cheese on crust rim.’’

Could you tell us if these statements are still accurate today?”

Spencer Breidinger, Manager of Global Product Quality and Regulatory Compliance – Supply Chain Services at Domino’s, wrote to us in November 2021:

“Yes, they are accurate with the exception of the cheese rim on ‘Legends’ pizzas. We no longer apply cheese to the rim of these menu items.”

To get more clarification on the other points previously stated by former employee Carey Allen (quoted above), The VRG followed up by asking:

“1. Of the three cheeses in the Pacific Veggie Pizza, (according to your website: provolone, mozzarella, and feta), do any of them contain animal-derived lipase?

2. Is the Parm/Asiago blend (the cheese applied to the hand tossed crust for Pacific Veggie that contains animal-derived lipase), the cheese that is NOT used anymore?”

Spencer replied by writing in response to the first question in December 2021 after consulting with his team:

“No added lipase is in these cheeses, however naturally occurring lipase enzyme may be present.”

And to the second question, he replied:

“The Parm-Asiago is no longer used on the crust of those pizzas, but is still a menu item that can be chosen by the consumer. The cheese itself has not changed.”

Interested readers who have further questions about Domino’s menu items should contact Domino’s directly.

For information about other chains, see https://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.php

Also see an upcoming posting about vegan options at Domino’s.

For information about ingredients, see: https://www.vrg.org/ingredients/index.php

The contents of this posting, our website, and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, 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 statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.