The short answer is yes, Oreos really are vegan. But before you dash over to your nearest supermarket and raid the vegan biscuit and chocolate section, you’ll want to read this post.
Photo credit: Oreo
What are Oreos?
Oreo is an American brand of sandwich-style biscuits that have been around since 1912. They're made up of two circular chocolate biscuits stuffed with a vanilla flavoured cream filling – and they're delicious. There are many variations and flavour combinations of Oreos, but like many things in life, the simple original is definitely the best. It's not only us who thinks so either, Oreos are available in over 100 countries, so that's a lot of happy customers.
Are Oreos suitable for anyone on a plant-based diet?
Following our 11 of the Best Vegan Biscuits article, which divulged into our top picks of the best biscuits for both munching and dunking, we had some responses on our Instagram post from people who were shocked that Oreos are vegan because of the cross-contamination argument. So, are Oreos really vegan? The short answer is yes as they don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients. The long answer is a little more complex than that.
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’. So if you’re vegan strictly for health reasons or you’re allergic to milk, then it's probably best that you avoid our chocolatey friend, and find some other vegan chocolate or biscuits to satisfy that afternoon slump (our article recommends vegan biscuits like Party Rings, Lotus Biscuits and – the classic – Chocolate Chip Hobnobs).
As Oreos are made where there could be traces of milk found due to the equipment used and the area they are made in, some stricter vegans may not want to venture into that domain. But if you’re more concerned about the actual ingredients used in the making of Oreos, then you’re good to go.
FAQs
So, are Oreos really vegan? The short answer is yes as they don't contain any animal-derived ingredients. The long answer is a little more complex than that.
Are Oreos actually vegan? ›
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!
Which Oreo flavors are vegan? ›
Thins aside, the current lineup of vegan Oreo flavors includes Mint, Lemon, Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Hazelnut, Java Chip, Chocolate, Birthday Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Peanut Butter, and Caramel Coconut.
When did Oreos stop being vegan? ›
So in January 2006, under pressure from the public, Oreo replaced the trans fat in the biscuits with non-hydrogenated oils. Still, the recipe included whey protein, which is derived from dairy, until 2013 in the UK and 2014 in the US. When that ingredient was removed, the cookies finally became animal-free.
Are Oreos vegan in 2024? ›
Yes, original Oreos are vegan and most other flavours are vegan too! They're what is known as 'accidentally vegan biscuits', meaning they weren't specifically targeted towards vegans but are made to a vegan recipe.
Are Oreos vegan in Peta? ›
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).
What foods are accidentally vegan? ›
Top Accidentally Vegan Foods
- Cinnamon Life.
- Duncan Hines Chewy Fudge Brownie Mix.
- SkinnyPop White Cheddar Flavored Popped Popcorn.
- Airheads.
- Cracker Jack.
- Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili–Flavored Tortilla Chips.
- Fritos.
- Fruit by the Foot.
For those who were not already aware that the classic Oreo cookie is vegan, we hope to have just made your day.
Is sugar considered vegan? ›
Most vegans consider sugar a generally acceptable food, but strict vegans abstain from refined cane sugars that are likely to have been processed with animal products. They can, however, consume vegan-friendly raw cane sugar, certified-organic cane sugar, and sugar made exclusively from beets.
Is peanut butter vegan? ›
The bottom line. Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.
With that in mind, the simple answer is: yes. Skittles Classic Fruits are suitable for vegans. Though the bag only brands them as 'Suitable For Vegetarians', classic Skittles do have a vegan friendly status as they contain no animal products.
Are sour patch kids vegan? ›
By standard definitions, regular Sour Patch Kids candies are vegan because they don't contain animal products. However, the sugar in all of the Sour Patch Kids candies was likely, at least in part, processed with animal bone char. That may be reason enough for some vigilant vegans to abstain.
What was Oreo ripped off of? ›
Oreo was created in 1912 as an imitation of Hydrox.
Are Doritos vegan? ›
Since 1966, Doritos has satisfied customers' snack cravings with their flavored tortilla chips. But unfortunately for vegans, only one variety is vegan-friendly: Spicy Sweet Chili. The other Doritos flavors contain various dairy products and animal-derived flavors, none of which are vegan.
What makes Oreos not vegan? ›
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'.
Are Takis vegan? ›
Not all Takis flavors are vegan, as they contain animal ingredients, like milk or whey, in the recipe. But there are plenty of options that are totally animal-free. The original Fuego flavor, for example, which tastes like hot chili pepper and lime, is vegan.
Is there bone char in Oreos? ›
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.
Why do vegans avoid palm oil? ›
Many vegans such as myself try to avoid products that contain palm oil exactly because of the environmental destruction its production incurs. However, the overall purpose of veganism at least in the current socio-economic system is to MINIMIZE the amount of animal suffering and environmental damage that is happening.
