By emma hynes
When an omnivore tests out the water for vegetarian or vegan life, desserts can be a challenge in the beginning stages.
Even for someone who is lactose-intolerant but has no interest in a plant-based life, the amount of pre-packaged food with milk in it is astonishing.
Reading nutrition labels can easily make an aspiring vegan give up altogether and go back to eating meat and dairy. However, some snacks are widely believed to be safe for practicing vegans.
Someone somewhere spread a rumor that Oreos are vegan. However, the official site’s Frequently Asked Questions confirms that Oreos are not vegan.
“Unfortunately, OREOiD Cookies are not Kosher or Vegan. We cannot guarantee OREOiD Cookies are free of allergens."
So why were they believed to be vegan? Often categorized as “accidentally vegan,” depending on where the cookie was made, they often do not contain any animal products.
The ingredients commonly say they’re a mix of enriched flour, sugar, palm oil, soybean oil, leavening, high fructose corn syrup and salt. Then comes those tricky ingredients related to chocolate and cocoa.
Established vegans already know that there are vegan versions of chocolate and pure cocoa powder.
Oreos are manufactured in facilities that also make dairy products. Cross-contamination is a strong possibility, which means consumers who have dairy allergies or are allergic to chocolate may be at risk.
Additionally some Oreos are dipped in fudge. Although there is such a thing as vegan fudge, that’s not the variety used by manufacturers.
Newman’s Own Newman-O’s is a fair competitor for Oreos with a remarkably similar taste. Creme-filled with organic flour and sugar, all of Newman-O’s cookies are vegan
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