Key findings
- 1Oreo "creme" is sugar, palm/canola oil, and emulsifiers and no cream, butter, or dairy whatsoever
- 2The cocoa is alkali-processed (Dutch-process) with potassium carbonate, which darkens color and reduces its naturally occurring flavanols
- 3The cookie is built for a long shelf life using low moisture and the absence of any perishable dairy or egg ingredients
- 4In our analysis, Oreo products average a Processing Score of 11.4, which is Level 4
Why is Oreos ultra-processed on average?
The Oreo is a masterclass in food engineering. The chocolate wafer uses alkali-processed (Dutch-process) cocoa treated with potassium carbonate to darken the color and reduce bitterness. The "creme" filling contains no cream, and it is a blend of sugar, palm and/or canola oil, high fructose corn syrup, soy lecithin, and artificial vanillin. The wafer-creme adhesion, the precise snap when twisted apart, and the texture when dunked in milk are all engineered properties. The cookie achieves a long shelf life through low moisture content and the absence of any dairy or egg ingredients that would spoil. In our analysis, Oreo products average a Processing Score of 11.4, which is Level 4.
How 1,140 oreos products break down
Share of products at each processing level, in our analysis.
Oreos brand comparison
From least to most processed in our database.
How to read a oreos label
- 1
The "creme" contains no cream or dairy; it is sugar and oil with emulsifiers
- 2
Alkali-processed cocoa (listed as "cocoa processed with alkali") darkens color but reduces antioxidants
- 3
Vanillin is a synthetic vanilla flavor, not vanilla extract
- 4
More than one sugar source (sugar and HFCS) appears in the ingredient list
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Frequently asked questions
Is the cream in Oreos real cream?
No. Oreo "creme" (deliberately spelled without the "a") contains sugar, palm and/or canola oil, high fructose corn syrup, soy lecithin, and artificial flavor. There is no cream, butter, or any dairy ingredient in the filling.
Are Oreos vegan?
Oreos contain no animal-derived ingredients and are not certified vegan, but they have no dairy or eggs in the ingredient list.
Why are Oreos so addictive?
Oreos pair sugar and fat with a little salt, a combination food scientists describe as especially palatable; they call the point where taste satisfaction peaks the "bliss point." This site scores processing, not appetite.
What is a less processed alternative to Oreos?
Bakery chocolate sandwich cookies with butter, sugar, flour, cocoa, and real cream filling are noticeably less processed. Homemade chocolate wafers with buttercream use a handful of kitchen ingredients.