Oreos are one of the most popular snacks in the country, beloved by kids and adults alike. It doesn’t end at cookies: Oreo cakes, ice cream, pudding, and other confections are widely popular.
Given their creamy frosting center, it may be odd to think of Oreos as a potentially vegan snack. That’s why so many new vegans are thrilled to learn that they may be able to continue eating their favorite cookies! But are Oreos actually vegan? Here’s what you need to know:
Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don’t contain animal products — but they weren’t created to be a specifically vegan treat.
Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense. Plant-based cookies and cream lovers rejoice!
There are two caveats, though:
Since Oreos are produced in factories that use animal products, there’s always the chance of cross-contamination (something to consider if you have a severe allergy or dietary restrictions that strictly prohibit dairy, eggs, or animal products).
Some vegans define veganism as more than just the absence of animal products in food and may consider general animal welfare in lifestyle choices. That’s why you may see cosmetics or hygiene products labeled “vegan.” This not only means they don’t contain any animal derivatives, it means they are not tested on animals and no animals were harmed in the making or extraction of the product or ingredients. Some vegans see animal welfare as the most central tenant of veganism. Therefore, they consider ingredients that may harm animals during their production as not vegan.
Here's the official statement from the company: "Many OREO products are suitable for Vegans, but may include cross-contaminants of milk, so please check allergen advice. You can find a complete list of our Vegan certified products onThe Vegan Society Website."
Unbleached enriched flour: This is the standard flour used in processed foods. “Enriched” means it contains added vitamins and minerals like folic acid and B vitamins. This is a plant-derived product and is vegan.
Palm oil: While it is technically derived from plants, many people do not consider palm oil vegan because the harvesting process can be detrimental to the environment. Some vegans may abstain from Oreos because of this.
Sugar: Similarly, white sugar uses the charred bones of animals in the processing from raw sugar cane to table sugar. The bones of livestock are charred to produce carbon, which is used to filter the sugar and remove the color and impurities. While there is no trace of bone or the charred carbon it produces in sugar, some vegans may avoid Oreos because animals have to die to produce this ingredient.
Soybean oil and/or canola oil: Both these oils are made from plants and are vegan.
Oreos also contain small amounts of flavorings and preservatives, including cocoa, high fructose corn syrup, leaveners, salt, soy lecithin, and artificial flavors, all of which are not animal-derived and considered vegan.
What Oreo Flavors Are Vegan?
Most varieties of Oreos are vegan, including the Classic, Double Stuf, Mega Stuf, Golden, and Thins varieties.
More vegan flavors are Peanut Butter Creme, Java Chip, Chocolate Creme, Birthday Cake, Mint Creme, Dark Chocolate Creme, Lemon Golden Oreos, Black and White Cookie, Caramel Coconut, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Marshmallow, Gingerbread, Pumpkin Spice, Halloween Orange Boo, Red White and Blue, Space Dunk, Tiramisu Thins, Mint Thins, Lemon Thins — and likely many more as seasonal flavors are released.
However, always check the ingredients if you're abroad, as different manufacturers use different formulas. For example, some peanut butter flavored Oreos are not vegan in the UK.
What Oreo Flavors Are Not Vegan?
The fudge-coated varieties are not vegan, as the fudge coating contains milk.
Toffee Crunch Oreos contain confectioner’s glaze, which, depending on where you are geographically, can be made with shellac (a product derived from beetles).
Oreo Cakesters are not vegan, as they contain milk and eggs.
If you’re unsure, always check the ingredients list. If you see eggs, milk powder or solids, lactose or lactic acid, whey, casein, carmine, or gelatin, the product is likely not considered vegan.
It asks "Is Oreo suitable for Vegans?" and answers "No, Oreo have milk as cross contact and therefore are not suitable for vegans." Push past the British grammar and vocabulary, and focus: Cross contact means that a food might come into contact with another food during production — maybe two different products are made ...
Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense. Plant-based cookies and cream lovers rejoice!
Yes, Oreos are Dairy-Free, and They Make Gluten-Free Too
A few years ago, Nabisco announced the launch of certified gluten-free Oreo Cookies in not one, but two varieties. And this year, they've added a third wheatless flavor, Gluten-Free Mint Creme Oreos! All three varieties are also dairy-free.
Fortunately, loads of candies are vegan, so we can indulge our cravings (mostly) guilt-free. Most dark chocolate is vegan, as are popular sweet treats such as Smarties (known as Rockets in Canada), Oreos, Airheads, Jujubes, and Swedish Fish (some Swedish Fish contain beeswax, so be sure to check the label).
In short, the vast majority of Oreos are vegan and do not contain any animal ingredients (not even milk!). These include: Classic Oreos, Golden Oreos, Double Stuff, and Chocolate Cream Oreos. The only Oreos which are not suitable for vegans are the Peanut Butter flavoured biscuits which contain milk.
Oreo cookies do not contain any animal-derived ingredients and are safe to eat for vegans. If you have a dairy allergy, keep in mind that Oreos have milk as cross-contact.
Etymology. The origin of the name "Oreo" is unknown, but there are many hypotheses, including derivations from the French word or, meaning "gold", or from the Greek word ωραίο (oreo) meaning "nice" or "attractive". Others believe that the cookie was named Oreo simply because the name was short and easy to pronounce.
“The moisture dissolves the sugar in the chocolate and when it evaporates, the sugar crystals re-solidify into those tell-tale spotty white dots and chalky appearance on the surface.”
The longer answer. As the Oreo FAQ page states, while Oreos are indeed veggie-friendly, they are not strictly vegan as 'Oreo have milk as cross-contact and therefore they are not suitable for vegans'.
Early Oreos had lard (animal fat) as a main ingredient, which is neither vegan nor vegetarian. In the 1990s, amid health concerns, this ingredient was changed to partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Since then, traditional Oreo cookies have not contained any animal ingredients.
All Oreos, including gluten free Oreos, are dairy free. The only common allergen listed is soy and there are no animal products so Oreos are also suitable for vegans.
What About the Refined Sugar in Oreos? While refined sugars do not have any animal products, and are therefore technically "vegan," some refined sugar is processed with the use of animal bone char. The animal bone char is used as a filter to remove any impurities, color, and minerals from the sugar.
Using the process of elimination on the ingredients list on a box of Original Oreos, you can deduce that Oreo filling contains sugar, high fructose corn syrup, soy lecithin, artificial flavor, and “palm and/or canola oil.” The short ingredient list contains ingredients you've probably already heard of, and at its core, ...
Parent company: Mondelēz International Inc. How ethical is Oreo? Oreo is a biscuit brand which has a below-benchmark score on The Good Shopping Guide's Ethical Biscuits Ratings Table.
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