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Oreo is an American cookie brand, owned and produced by Mondelez International. It is known for its chocolate sandwich cookies filled with cream. These cookies are very popular worldwide, but the question often asked by the Muslim community is: Are these Oreo cookies halal? Is there pork in Oreo cookies?

We will help you discover the answers to these questions related to Islam and the recipe for these famous chocolate cookies in this article!

Oreo halal: the composition of Oreo cookies

Despite the fact that Oreo cookies are marketed in Algeria, many practicing Muslims ask the question: “Is the Oreo cookie not halal?”. Moreover, the Oreo company faced this controversy on Twitter in March 2019. They responded that their cookies were not intended for Muslim consumers:

“Our Oreos are not suitable for a halal diet.”

This vague response sparked numerous reactions from their Muslim consumer base and ultimately forced the company to clarify its position:

“Some stores may sell products that have local halal certification.”

Added to this, on Sunday, December 18, 2022, Mustapha Zebdi, president of APOCE Algeria, alerted that the Oreo cookies sold in Algeria would not be halal certified.

Thus, different countries may have different halal standards in place and different raw materials used to manufacture their product, including cookies, etc. According to the official website of the brand, the ingredients of Oreo cookies are as follows:

• Wheat flour;
• Sugar;
• Palm oil;
• Low-fat cocoa powder;
• Glucose-fructose syrup;
• Raising agents;
• Salt;
• Emulsifiers;
• Vanillin flavor.

Therefore, there is neither alcohol, nor pork gelatin, nor any other animal-derived ingredient among the ingredients listed, which could lead one to think that Oreo cookies are halal. However, one should be attentive to the additives present in the composition, particularly the emulsifiers.

Oreo cookies are favorite products for many people. Opinions on the internet about their compositions vary. You can remain confident when buying this product by checking the mentions on the packaging, as there is no definitive guarantee.

The emulsifiers in Oreo cookies

Emulsifiers are substances that allow for the mixing of ingredients that do not naturally mix, like water and oil. They are often used in food products to enhance taste, stability, and shape.

The emulsifiers used in Oreo cookies are as follows:

• Soy lecithin (E322)
• Mono and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471)

Soy lecithin is a plant-based emulsifier, which does not pose a problem for a Muslim consumer. However, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids can be of animal or plant origin, and it is not possible to know without halal certification.

Indeed, these emulsifiers can be made from animal fats, such as pork or beef, or from vegetable fats, such as palm or rapeseed oil.

But Oreos are vegan, so this means that it is vegetable fat that is used.

Are Oreo cookies halal in France?

Oreo cookies do not directly contain pork in their composition, but they contain emulsifiers that may be of animal or plant origin. Therefore, it is not possible to assert that Oreo cookies are halal without official certification.

It is important to know that only the factory in France is not halal certified for practical reasons. If you are a Muslim and wish to consume Oreo cookies, you can check if there is a certified halal version in your country, or inquire with the manufacturer to know the origin of the emulsifiers used.

How to recognize a halal Oreo product?

To recap, a product is said to be halal if it complies with the principles of Islamic law. Thus, these products in question must not contain:

• Ingredients prohibited by Sharia, including alcohol, blood, or pork.
• And must be prepared according to practices consistent with Islamic teachings.

Some foods are considered haram, meaning that their consumption is forbidden for Muslims. Among them, we can cite: pork and all its derivatives (such as pork gelatin), alcohol in all forms as well as products containing blood.

Therefore, in Algeria, Morocco, France, or in other countries, Muslims who attach importance to respecting halal regulations must always remain vigilant and carefully inquire about the products they purchase. The best solution is to refer to certified brands recognized in your country or region.
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