Are Oreo Cookies Truly Suitable for Vegans?

Are Oreos vegan?
Photo by Yogendra Singh on Unsplash

Mass-produced vegan sweets are such a rarity that we tend to jump at every opportunity to embrace the ones free of animal byproducts. Plant-based snacks you can find at your local store are a few and far between, but do Oreo cookies fall under this category?

Not Totally Plant-Based

Oreos are extremely popular with people who have certain dietary restrictions but calling them 100% plant-based would be wrong. Despite the fact even PETA once claimed they’re vegan, things aren’t as black and white as they seem when it comes to Oreos.

As the company’s official website explains, these beloved cookies are “veggie-friendly” and suitable for vegetarians, but vegans are a different story. Due to the risk of cross-contamination from dairy products, Oreos may contain traces of milk, and that’s why plant-based eaters should think twice before buying them.

The Main Point

If you’re vegetarian, you can eat Oreos without any concerns, but the possible cross-contact with milk doesn’t make them suitable for vegans. Another thing you should keep in mind about Oreo cookies if you happen to have certain dietary restrictions is their wheat content. Wheat happens to be one of the main ingredients in classic Oreos and that’s why they shouldn’t be a part of a gluten-free diet.