Many people are unsure if Oreos are vegan. It’s actually pretty controversial within the vegan community and there’s a good reason for that.
For starters, most Oreos don’t contain animal products. However, they are manufactured in a space that uses animal products, so they’re not suitable for those with milk allergies because there’s a risk of cross-contamination.
It’s not black and white.
Though many Oreo products contain vegan ingredient lists, when we asked Oreo in an email if they had any vegan products, they replied that they couldn’t guarantee any of their products are vegan and their products are not suitable for vegans. We suspect this is due to no Oreo products being labeled or certified as vegan.
Beyond that, some Oreo flavors may be vegan in one country and not in another country – even if the ingredient list is the same.
White Sugar:
Oreos contain plain white sugar, which may be processed with bone char. Bone char helps the sugar achieve a bright white color – but it’s not listed as an ingredient on sugar that uses it. Since sugar is only processed with bone char and doesn’t contain bone char, it’s hard to know if one sugar company is vegan or not. With Oreos specifically, we don’t even know what sugar brand or company they work with. In some countries, the sugar may use bone char, but it might not in other countries – it really depends on the specific sugar in that region of the world.
White sugar is not something all vegans avoid, but if you prefer to avoid it then it’s best to avoid Oreos.
Confectioner’s Glaze
Confectioner’s glaze is a nice way of saying lac bug resin. It’s made directly from shellac, a resin secretion produced by lac bugs, primarily in Thailand and India. We contacted a shellac harvester from India and they shared that it takes about 300,000 lac bugs to produce 1 kilogram of shellac. Lac bugs naturally have short lifespans and aren’t intentionally killed during the harvest of the resin, but many female bugs and eggs do die. Peta quotes that ~100,000 lac bugs die to produce 1 pound of resin, which is misleading since that number includes those lac bugs dying of natural causes, like old age. Even so, much like honey, it’s nearly impossible to harvest shellac without some death to the bugs – especially in large-scale operations.
Confectioner’s glaze is currently found in the Birthday Cake flavored Oreos.
Palm Oil
Though vegan by nature, those who are vegan for animal welfare often avoid palm oil which is found in nearly all Oreos products.
Vegan and Non-Vegan Oreo Flavors
We’ve listed all of the current vegan Oreos and non-vegan Oreos below, along with their ingredients. Note: We gathered this information directly from Oreo’s website.
Shortly put, all non-dipped Oreos are vegan except for the Birthday Cake Flavor Oreos that contain shellac (confectioner’s glaze). Vegan Oreos include the limited-edition Lady Gaga Oreos and Brookie-O Oreos.
Any Oreos that contain a dip or glaze are not vegan, including the new OreoiD “make your own.”
Vegan Oreos
Original Oreo
INGREDIENTS:
UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE \, RIBOFLAVIN \, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. })
Double Stuf
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Mega Stuf
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, DEXTROSE, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Golden
INGREDIENTS:
UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, CANOLA AND/OR PALM OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Golden Double Stuf
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Oreo Golden Lemon
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, ANNATTO EXTRACT (VEGETABLE COLOR).
Chocolate Creme
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Dark Chocolate
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE VITAMIN B1, RIBOFLAVIN VITAMIN B2, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Double Stuf Gluten Free
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, PALM OIL, WHITE RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA STARCH, CANOLA OIL, WHOLE OAT FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), INVERT SUGAR, SOY LECITHIN, BAKING SODA, SALT, XANTHAN GUM, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Gluten Free Original
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, WHITE RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA STARCH, PALM OIL, CANOLA OIL, WHOLE OAT FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), INVERT SUGAR, SOY LECITHIN, BAKING SODA, SALT, XANTHAN GUM, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Mint
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE VITAMIN B1, RIBOFLAVIN VITAMIN B2, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, PEPPERMINT OIL, ARTIFICIAL COLOR (YELLOW 5 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE), CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Caramel Coconut
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, DRIED COCONUT, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, DEXTROSE, YELLOW 5 LAKE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, RED 40 LAKE, CHOCOLATE, BLUE 1 LAKE, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Chocolate Marshmallow
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), MARSHMALLOW PIECES (INVERT SUGAR, SUGAR, WATER, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SODIUM ALGINATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE {FOR COLOR}, CALCIUM CHLORIDE), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, CHOCOLATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Carrot Cake
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, WHOLERAIN WHEAT FLOUR (GRAHAM FLOUR), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SPICE, CORN CEREAL, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR, BAKING SODA, CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHIN, PAPRIKA EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, ADIPIC ACID, YEAST EXTRACT.
Chocolate Peanut Butter
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PEANUT BUTTER (PEANUTS, HYDROGENATED RAPESEED AND/OR COTTONSEED AND/OR SOYBEAN OILS, SALT), CANOLA AND/OR PALM OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT,LUCOSE, SOY LECITHIN, INVERT SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Java Chip
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, CARAMELIZED SUGAR, YELLOW 5 LAKE, CORN SYRUP, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, RED 40 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Chocolate Hazelnut
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, PEANUT BUTTER (DRY ROASTED PEANUTS, HYDROGENATED RAPESEED AND/OR COTTONSEED AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL, SALT), WHOLEGRAIN WHEAT FLOUR (GRAHAM FLOUR), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, MALTODEXTRIN, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), SALT, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CARAMEL COLOR,LUCOSE SYRUP, SOY LECITHIN, INVERT SUGAR, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, PEANUT BUTTER (DRY ROASTED PEANUTS, HYDROGENATED RAPESEED AND/OR COTTONSEED AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL, SALT), WHOLERAIN WHEAT FLOUR (GRAHAM FLOUR), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, MALTODEXTRIN, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), SALT, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CARAMEL COLOR,LUCOSE SYRUP, SOY LECITHIN, INVERT SUGAR, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Vegan Oreo Thins
Original Thins
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, BAKING SODA, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Dark Chocolate Thins
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON,THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Mint Thins
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, BAKING SODA, PEPPERMINT OIL, ARTIFICIAL COLOR (YELLOW 5 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE), CHOCOLATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Latte Thins
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, BAKING SODA, YELLOW 5 LAKE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CHOCOLATE, RED 40 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE, NATURAL FLAVOR
Golden Thins
INGREDIENTS:
UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Golden Lemon Thins
INGREDIENTS:
UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, ANNATTO EXTRACT (FOR COLOR).
Limited Edition / Seasonal Vegan Oreos
Lady Gaga
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, SALT, BAKING SODA, YELLOW 5 LAKE, SOY LECITHIN, BLUE 1 LAKE, RED 40 LAKE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Brookie-O
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM AND/OR CANOLA OIL, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, BAKING SODA, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, COCOA, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, NATURAL FLAVOR, CHOCOLATE, CARAMELIZED SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, YELLOW 5 LAKE, RED 40 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE.
Non-Vegan Oreo Products
Birthday Cake
INGREDIENTS:
SUGAR, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE, MONONITRATE, [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), HIGH OLEIC CANOLA AND/OR PALM AND/OR CANOLA, COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), CORNSTARCH, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR CALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICAL FLAVOR, ARTIFICIAL COLOR (RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE, YELLOW LAKE 5), PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, CORN DEXTRIN, CONFECTIONER’S GLAZE, CHOCOLATE CARNAUBA WAX.
OREO Thins Bites Fudge Dipped Sandwich Cookies, Latte Flavored Creme
OREO Thins Bites White Fudge Dipped Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
OREO Thins Bites Fudge Dipped Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Mint Flavored Creme
OREO Thins Bites Fudge Dipped Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
OREO Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Sandwich Cookies, Dark Chocolate Flavored Creme
OREO Fudge Covered Mint Creme Sandwich Cookies
OREO Fudge Covered Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
OREOiD “make your own” – both white and chocolate coatings contain milk.
