With creamy centres sandwiched in cocoa biscuits, Oreos are one of the world’s most-loved snacks, but are they vegan? Here’s everything vegans need to know about these iconic cookies
There’s no greater feeling than the moment of joy when you realise one of your favourite snacks is accidentally vegan.
Not having to give up regular supermarket buys or find alternative versions of your classic teatime treats makes transitioning to a vegan diet even easier.
But are all Oreos certified vegan? And if they are, can they be enjoyed as part of an ethical vegan diet?
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In this article, you will learn about:
- Are Oreos vegan?
- Why does Oreo say Oreos are vegetarian but not vegan?
- Is the sugar in Oreos vegan?
- Vegan Oreo flavours
- What flavours of Oreos are not vegan?
- Do Oreos contain palm oil?
- Are Oreos gluten-free?
- Oreo ingredients
- Vegan Oreo alternatives
- How to make vegan Oreos
Are Oreos vegan?
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.
If you’re buying Oreos in another country you’ll want to check the ingredients list, as other countries may have different manufacturing procedures. For example, in the US Oreos are made from sugar filtered with bone char.
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Most flavours of Oreos are vegan and do not contain any animal ingredients (not even milk!). Photo © Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Why does Oreo say Oreos are vegetarian but not vegan?
Unlike the cookies themselves, the debate on whether Oreos are vegan is anything but black and white.
Despite many Oreos being free from animal products, the biscuits are only listed as vegetarian on the official Oreo website.
According to the Oreo website: “No, OREO have milk as cross contact and therefore they are not suitable for vegans.”
This means that whilst the majority of cookies might be accidentally plant-based, the manufacturers do not have the procedures in place to be able to confidently claim that their products are vegan.
This is due to the possibility of milk cross-contamination arising from dairy products that are used within the factory.
Therefore, the manufacturers have to advise that traces of dairy may be found in Oreos.
However, this is more of a legal requirement to ensure those allergic to milk are fully informed before choosing to buy an Oreo.
Due to cross-contamination issues, some vegans will choose to avoid eating products such as Oreos which may contain trace amounts of dairy.
However, many vegan products also feature a ‘may contain’ label, due to factory conditions so it is down to personal choice for many vegans whether they choose to eat products carrying this warning.
Vegan charity Viva! says: “They [accidentally-vegan products] make it much easier to not only find vegan snacks and treats, but to enjoy them with family and friends.
“So, although it is your choice whether to eat products with ‘may contain’ warnings, we would encourage new and transitioning vegans not to be too hard on themselves, as it is unlikely that the product is non-vegan.”
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Due to cross-contamination in the manufacturing facility, Oreo do not list them as being suitable for vegans, despite containing no animal ingredients. Photo © matpit73 via Getty Images
Is the sugar in Oreos vegan?
As mentioned earlier, while Oreos in the UK are suitable for vegans, in the US they are made from sugar filtered with a charcoal-like substance called bone char.
Bone char, a substance used in the production of sugar cane, helps give refined sugar its crystalline white colour. It is derived from the bones of animals typically sourced from the animal agriculture industry. Because of this and the fact it is an animal product, many vegans rightfully have reservations about its compatibility with a vegan lifestyle.
But here’s the deal: avoiding this sugar altogether isn’t that simple.While not all sugar production in the US involves the use of bone char, discerning whether a specific product contains sugar derived from this process can prove challenging. As a result, many vegans may find it difficult to avoid consuming products that potentially incorporate bone char-filtered sugar.
However, it’s important to note that the concept of veganism, as defined by The Vegan Society, encourages the avoidance of animal exploitation to the best of one’s ability and practicality.
In the case of bone char-produced sugar, the widespread prevalence of this method in the sugar industry makes avoiding it completely exceptionally challenging.
Consequently, products containing sugar processed with bone char are often still considered acceptable as part of a vegan lifestyle. Ultimately, it’s up to the individual to decide whether or not this ingredient is something they feel comfortable consuming on a vegan diet.
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While Oreos in the UK are suitable for vegans, in the US they are madefrom sugar filtered with bone char. Photo © Cathy Scola via Getty Images
Vegan Oreo flavours
Oreo boasts an ever-changing lineup of flavours with around 85 flavours having being released over the years. From the decadent ‘Stuf’ varieties to seasonal flavours and its crispy ‘Thins’ range, there are plenty of vegan-friendly Oreo flavours on offer.
Vegan Oreo flavours* in the current core range in the US include:
Flavoured Oreos
- Birthday Cake Oreos
- Caramel Coconut Oreos
- Carrot Cake Oreos
- Chocolate Oreos
- Chocolate Hazelnut Oreos
- Chocolate Marshmallow Oreos
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Oreos
- Cinnamon Oreos
- Classic Dark Chocolate Oreos
- Dark Chocolate Oreos
- Gluten-Free Oreos Oreos
- Golden Oreos
- Java Chip Oreos
- Lemon Oreos
- Mint Oreos
Original ‘Stuf’
- Double Stuf
- Golden Double Stuf
- The Most Stuf
- Mega Stuf
From 'Stuf' to 'Thins' and 'Minis', there are plenty of vegan Oreos flavours that are suitable for vegans. Photo © Vegan Food & Living
Seasonal Oreo varieties
- Gingerbread
- Halloween Orange Boo
- Red White & Blue
- Winter Joy
Mini varieties
- Minis Original
- Minis Golden
Thins varieties
- Thins Original
- Thins Coconut
- Thins Dark Chocolate
- Thins Golden
- Thins Latte
- Thins Lemon
- Thins Mint
- Thins Pistachio
- Others
- Brookie
- Caramel Coconut
- Carrot Cake
- Cinnamon Bun
- Lemon
- Maple Creme
- Peanut Butter
- Tiramisu
Please note that while these Oreo flavours don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients, they may contain processed cane sugar that has been filtered with bone char if they have been manufactured in the US.
*The information provided is correct at the time of publishing. However, it is important to note that ingredients and formulations can change over time and by country. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you always check the product labels and ingredient lists before making a purchase, as manufacturers may alter their recipes or introduce new variations.
What flavours of Oreos are not vegan?
Fudge-covered Oreos are not vegan because the chocolate coating contains dairy.
Oreo Cakesters are also not vegan as the soft-baked cake sandwiches with a creme filling contains both milk and eggs.
Finally, Oreo Snowy Enrobed Biscuits and Oreo Cadbury Chocolate Coated Biscuits are not suitable for vegans as they are coated in a chocolate layer containing milk.
Unfortuantely Oreo Cakesters are not vegan as they contain dairy in the ingredients. Photo © sheilaf2002 via Adobe Stock
Do Oreos contain palm-oil?
Palm oil is always a complex subject when it comes to deciding whether or not to buy a product. In fact, it’s a topic that often divides vegans in their buying habits.
Whilst Oreos do contain palm oil, it is stated on the manufacturer’s website that the palm oil used is sourced responsibly and ensures procedures are in place to minimise deforestation.
Despite this, some vegans choose to boycott products that contain palm oil due to the environmental impact of palm plantations.
However, palm oil is vegan as the oil is derived from palm plants. Furthermore, its production does not need to involve the abuse or misuse of animals.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether Oreos are a part of your regular vegan snacking schedule.
Although technically a vegan ingredient, many vegans choose to avoid purchasing products containing palm oil due to the to the environmental impact of palm plantations. Photo © t4nkyong via Adobe Stock
Are Oreos gluten-free?
At the time of writing, Gluten-Free Oreos are unfortunately not available to buy in the UK. However, Gluten-Free Oreos do exist and are available to buy in the USA.
These biscuits are made using oat flour rather than wheat flour, and are also accidentally vegan.
Hopefully, these free-from treats will find their way into our supermarket shelves very soon!
Oreo ingredients
Here are the current ingredients for the Original Oreo as available in the UK according to Oreo’s website:
Wheat Flour, Sugar, Vegetable Oil (Palm), Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder 4.6%, Wheat Starch, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Salt, Raising Agents (Potassium Hydrogen Carbonate, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate), Emulsifiers (Soya Lecithin, Sunflower Lecithin), Flavouring (Vanillin).
Original Oreos contain no animal-derived ingredients and are therefore suitable for vegans*.
*Please note that manufacturers may change the recipe of their products so make sure you double-check the label before purchasing.
Vegan Oreo alternatives
If you’ve decided that the issues surrounding classic Oreos are something you wish to avoid in your diet, you might be wondering what vegan Oreo alternatives are there?
Thankfully a number of vegan companies have created their own vegan Oreo alternatives so you can snack with a clear conscience.
1. Vegan Bakery Cookies ‘N Cream
Vegan biscuit manufacture Vegan Bakery’s Cookies ‘N Cream biscuits are both vegan and gluten-free. What’s more, they’re certified by The Vegan Society so you can rest assured they’re entirely free from animal products.
You can buy Vegan Bakery Cookies ‘N Cream from online vegan supermarkets and Amazon.
2. GATO Cookie ‘n’ Cream Chocolate Vanilla
GATO’S crunchy chocolate cookies sandwiched together with smooth vanilla cream are another tasty vegan alternative to Oreo’s.
Moreover, they’re vegan, gluten-free and high fibre and 30%+ less sugar than similar cookies. They’re both nutritious and delicious and perfect for those looking for their Oreo fix.
GATO’S Cookies ‘n Cream biscuits are available on the high street at Boots, Holland & Barrett, and via Amazon.
Vegan Oreo recipes
If you love vegan baking, why not trying making your own vegan chocolate sandwich cookies at home.
There are lots of recipes for vegan Oreos from healthy versions to giant cookies. If you’re looking for an easy vegan Oreo recipe, we love this simple recipe below.
If you love vegan biscuits, try thesevegan cookie recipes!
Featured photo © Dan Brandenburg via Getty Images
