Oreo () is a commercial brand of cookie usually consisting of two chocolate wafers with a sweet crème filling in between, and (as of 1974) is marketed as "Chocolate Sandwich Cookies" on the package. The version currently sold in the United States is made by the Nabisco division of Mondel?z International. Oreo has become the best-selling cookie in the United States since its introduction in 1912. Oreos are available in over 100 different countries worldwide; in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, they are referred to as Oreo biscuits.
Video Oreo
Etymology
The origin of the name Oreo is unknown, but there are many hypotheses, including derivations from the French word 'Or', meaning gold (since early packaging was gold), or the Greek word "?????" (/?.'??.?/), meaning tasty, beautiful, nice or well done. Others believe that the cookie was named Oreo simply because the name was short and easy to pronounce. Another theory is that the name derives from the Latin Oreodaphne, a genus of the laurel family. Food writer Stella Parks notes in her book BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts that the original design of the Oreo includes a laurel wreath; and the names of several of Nabisco's cookies at the time of the original Oreo had botanical derivations, including Avena, Lotus, and Helicon (from Heliconia).
Maps Oreo
History
Twentieth century
The "Oreo Biscuit" was first developed and produced by the National Biscuit Company (today known as Nabisco) in 1912 at its Chelsea, Manhattan factory in the current-day Chelsea Market complex, located on Ninth Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets. Today, this same block of Ninth Avenue is known as "Oreo Way". The name Oreo was first trademarked on March 14, 1912. It was launched as an imitation of the Hydrox cookie manufactured by Sunshine company, which was introduced in 1908.
The original design on the face of the Oreo featured a wreath around the edge of the cookie and the name "OREO" in the center. In the United States, they were sold for 25 cents a pound (453 g) in novelty metal canisters with clear glass tops. The first Oreo was sold on March 6, 1912, to a grocer in Hoboken, New Jersey.
The Oreo Biscuit was renamed in 1921 to "Oreo Sandwich"; in 1948, the name was changed to "Oreo Crème Sandwich"; and in 1974 it became the "Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookie", the name that has remained to this day. A new design for the face of the cookie was launched in 1924; the modern-day Oreo design was developed in 1952 by William A. Turnier, incorporating the Nabisco logo. In 1920, a second lemon crème-filled variety of the Oreo was introduced, as an alternative to the white crème-filled variety, but this was discontinued in 1924 and the original flavor was the only version available for the next several decades.
The modern Oreo cookie filling was developed by Nabisco's principal food scientist, Sam Porcello, who retired from Nabisco in 1993. Porcello held five patents directly related to his work on the Oreo; he also created a range of Oreo cookies that were covered in dark chocolate and white chocolate. In the early 1990s, health concerns prompted Nabisco to replace the lard in the crème filling with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Oreo cookies are popular with people that have certain dietary restrictions, such as vegans, as the crème filling does not use any animal products. However, there is still a risk of cross-contamination from other dairy-containing products made in the same production areas..
Twenty-first century
From January 2006, Nabisco replaced the trans fat in the Oreo cookie with non-hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Nabisco began a marketing campaign in 2008, advertising the use of Oreo cookies in an online game called DSRL (which stands for "Double Stuf Racing League"), introduced the week before Super Bowl XLII. DSRL had been endorsed by football brothers Peyton Manning and Eli Manning; the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, also joined, challenging the Mannings to a race that was aired in an advertisement on January 18, 2009. Another campaign was launched for Golden Double Stuf Oreo cookies, in which the Manning brothers were challenged by Donald Trump and a character called "Double Trump", played by Darrell Hammond; this competition aired on January 24, 2010. The Mannings won both races. Another advertisement featured a "Hooded Menace" threatening to take over the DSRL, with Eli Manning and Stufy (the DSRL mascot) needing some help, which aired on September 14, 2010. Six days later, it was announced that Shaquille O'Neal and Apolo Ohno had joined Oreo's DSRL veterans Eli Manning and Venus Williams.
In April 2011, Oreo announced its special edition Oreo cookies with blue crème to promote the 2011 3D computer animated film Rio. The promotion included stickers inside each package of cookies. Two contests were also announced: by completing an album of stickers, consumers could win three movie passes and medium snack bar combos; and prize stickers could be found in winning packages, including a trip to Rio de Janeiro, backpacks, cinema passes for a year, and 3D glasses. The promotion was available in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia, and ended on May 30, 2011.
In June 2012, Oreo posted an advertisement displaying an Oreo cookie with rainbow colored crème to celebrate Gay Pride month; the cookie itself was fictional and was not being manufactured or made available for sale. The advertisement prompted some negative comments, but Kraft stood by their promotion, stating that "Kraft Foods has a proud history of celebrating diversity and inclusiveness. We feel the Oreo ad is a fun reflection of our values." This was followed during 2012 by a series of adverts commemorating other holidays and events, including a red, white, and blue crème Oreo to honor Bastille Day, a stream of cookie crumbs marking the appearance of the Delta Aquariids meteor shower, and a cookie with a jagged bite taken out of it to promote Shark Week on The Discovery Channel.
International distribution
Oreo cookies are distributed worldwide through a variety of sales and marketing channels. As their popularity continues to grow, so too does the amount of distribution that comes with it. According to the Kraft Foods company, the Oreo is the "World's Best Selling Cookie". In March 2012, Time magazine reported that Oreo cookies were available in more than 100 different countries. Overall, it is estimated that since the Oreo cookie's inception in 1912, over 450 billion Oreos have been produced worldwide. The top five countries in terms of sales are the United States, China, Venezuela, Canada, and Indonesia.
Oreo biscuits (as they are known in the United Kingdom) were first introduced into Britain through the supermarket chain Sainsbury's. This was the only store that stocked the Oreo in the UK for several years, until May 2008 when Kraft decided to fully launch the Oreo across the whole of the UK. It was repackaged in the more familiar British tube design, accompanied by a £4.5M television advertising campaign based around the "twist, lick, dunk" catchphrase.
In the UK, Kraft partnered with McDonald's to introduce the Oreo McFlurry (which was already on sale in several other countries) into a number of McDonald's locations during its annual Great Tastes of America promotions; in October 2015, the Oreo McFlurry became a permanent menu item at McDonald's in the UK. An Oreo flavored "Krushem" drink was also on sale in KFC stores across Britain.
The ingredients of the British Oreo biscuit (as listed on the UK Oreo website) are slightly different to those of the US Oreo cookie. Unlike the US version, the British Oreo originally contained whey powder, so was not suitable for people with lactose intolerance. Additionally, as the whey powder was sourced from cheese made with calf rennet, the British version was also unsuitable for vegetarians. On December 6, 2011, Kraft announced that production of Oreo biscuits was to start in the UK - their Cadbury factory in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was selected to manufacture Oreo biscuits in Britain for the first time and production began there in May 2013.
Oreo cookies were introduced onto the Indian market by Cadbury India in 2011. The biscuit industry in India is estimated to be worth around 1.8 billion dollars.
Production
According to a statement from Kim McMiller, an Associate Director of Consumer Relations, a two-stage process is used to make Oreo cookies. The base cake dough is formed into the familiar round cookies by a rotary mold at the entrance of a 300-foot (91 m) oven.
Most of the Oreo production was once carried out at the Hershey's factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Oreo cookies for the Asian markets are manufactured in Indonesia, India and China, except for Japan where they are manufactured locally under the brand "Yamazaki-Nabisco". Oreo cookies for the Europen market are made in Spain; they are made in Russia (Mondel?z Rus) for consumers in several CIS countries; and those sold in Australia are manufactured in Indonesia (previously China) or Spain, depending on the flavor. The version produced in Canada (sold under the Christie's brand) includes coconut oil and is sold exclusively in that region. Manufacture of Oreo biscuits began in Pakistan in early 2014, in collaboration with Mondel?z International of the United States and Continental Biscuits Limited (CBL) of Pakistan, at the CBL production plant in Sukkur.
Oreo boycott
In 2015, Mondel?z announced its decision to close some of its American factories and move Oreo production to Mexico, prompting the Oreo boycott. In 2016, after production had started in Mexico, the AFL-CIO encouraged the boycott and published consumer guidance to help identify which Mondel?z products were made in Mexico.
In July 2016, Oreo cookies ceased production in Chicago.
Ingredients
The ingredients of Oreo cookies have remained largely unchanged from the original, although numerous alternative varieties and flavors have emerged over time. The classic Oreo cookie is made using eleven main ingredients:
- Sugar
- Unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mono-nitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), folic acid)
- High oleic canola oil and/or palm oil and/or canola oil
- Cocoa (processed with alkali)
- High fructose corn syrup
- Leavening agent (baking soda and/or calcium phosphate)
- Corn starch
- Salt
- Soy lecithin
- Vanillin (artificial flavor)
- Chocolate
Controversy
There is some controversy over the ingredients found in Oreo cookies. They contain high fructose corn syrup, which has been found to be as addictive as cocaine. Studies conducted by Connecticut College researchers, where cocaine was placed on one side of a rat maze and Oreos were placed on the other, found that the rats spent an equal amount of time in both areas. The researchers found that the Oreos activated significantly more neurons than the cocaine. Many manufacturers are now using high fructose corn syrup in their products because it is far cheaper to produce than natural sugar. Oreo cookies also contain vanillin, a synthetic compound that can be used as a cheap substitute for natural vanilla. However, there is evidence to suggest that in some people, vanillin causes allergic reactions, digestive disorders, and migraines. Another ingredient of the famous Oreo cookie is soy lecithin, which has been linked in several studies to abdominal bloating, diarrhea, skin rashes, nausea, stomach pain and behavioral abnormalities. Studies have also found that the use of calcium phosphate (leavening agent) as a food additive creates health risks, including potential damage to blood vessels.
Nutrition
One six-pack of Oreos contains 270 calories, hence there are 45 calories in one cookie. Of these 45 calories, 27 come from carbohydrates, 16.5 come from fat, and only 1.5 calories are provided by protein.
Different Oreo flavors have varying amounts of carbohydrate, for example, the chocolate fudge Oreo contains 13g of total carbohydrates (4% of the recommended daily intake) and 9g of sugars. The mint Oreo contains 25g of total carbohydrates per serving and 18g of sugars. Vitamins, minerals and proteins are found in small amounts in the cookie. Oreos do not contain any vitamin A or vitamin C.
Varieties
In addition to their traditional design of two chocolate wafers separated by a crème filling, Oreo cookies have been produced in a multitude of different varieties since they were first introduced. This list is only a guide to some of the more notable and popular types; not all are available in every country. The main varieties in the United States are:
- Double Stuf Oreo - Introduced in 1974, this variety has about double the normal amount of crème filling as the original. Available with various different flavors of crème filling: original, chocolate, peanut butter, cool mint, and birthday cake. In the UK these are called Double Stuff Oreos (with double 'f') and are only available in original flavor.
- Football Oreo - (American/Canadian) football-shaped Oreo cookies, introduced in 1976.
- Big Stuf Oreo - A short-lived variety of the Oreo cookie, introduced in 1987 but discontinued in 1991, these were several times the size of a normal Oreo. Sold individually, each Big Stuf contained 250 calories (1,000 kJ) and 13 grams of fat.
- Golden Oreo - First released in 2004, this has "golden" vanilla flavored wafers on the outside of the cookie, as an alternative to the original chocolate flavored wafers. Available with various flavors of crème filling including original, chocolate, lemon and birthday cake. The chocolate crème variety, being the reverse of the original cookie, was known as the "Uh-Oh Oreo" until 2007.
- Oreo Mini - First introduced in 1991, these are miniature bite-sized versions of the original Oreo cookie. After being discontinued in the late 1990s, they were re-released in 2000 along with the redesigned 2001 Dodge Caravan minivan as part of a promotional tie-in with DaimlerChrysler. Their packaging in the 1990s consisted of a "miniaturized" version of the full-sized cardboard tray and box used in Oreo packaging at the time. Their revised packaging consists of an aluminum foil bag. Oreo Minis are available with various flavors of crème filling including original, chocolate, strawberry, and the new mint flavor which debuted in 2015. As well as the bagged version, they are also sold in Nabisco To-Go Cups, lidded plastic cups which fit into car cup-holders (in line with other Nabisco snacks that come in miniature form, such as Nutter Butters). A Golden Oreo Mini was also made available after the Golden Oreo was released in 2004. According to the Oreo website, the slogan of the Oreo Mini is "Grab 'em. Pop 'em. Love 'em."
- Mega Stuf Oreo - Released in February 2013, the Mega Stuf variety is similar to Double Stuf, but with even more white crème filling. They come in both chocolate and golden wafer varieties.
- Oreo Thins - Introduced in 2015, this is a thin version of the original Oreo cookie. Thins come in both chocolate and golden wafer varieties, with various crème filling flavors including chocolate, mint, lemon and tiramisu. Each cookie contains only 40 calories; they are 66% thinner than the original version.
- Chocolate Oreo - Simply an Oreo cookie with chocolate crème filling instead of the original vanilla flavored white crème filling.
Special edition Double Stuf Oreo cookies are produced during springtime, and around Halloween and Christmas. These have colored frosting reflecting the current holiday: blue or yellow for springtime; orange for Hallowe'en; and red or green for the Christmas holiday. One side of each seasonal cookie is stamped with an appropriate design; the spring cookies feature flowers, butterflies, etc., while the Halloween editions feature a jack o'lantern, ghost, cat, flock of bats, or broom-riding witch. The 2017 Halloween Oreo broke with this tradition, having orange-colored crème filling (albeit with classic vanilla flavor) but carrying no seasonal designs.
Limited Edition Oreos
Beginning in the early 2010s, Oreo began releasing limited edition runs of cookies with more exotic flavors. These "limited editions" typically appear in stores only once, and are thereafter discontinued, though some varieties have resurfaced (Reese's Oreos, first introduced in 2014, returned for a second limited run, and Birthday Cake Oreos, originally introduced in 2012, have since become permanently available.) They may also be available only from certain retailers. These limited edition runs typically feature crème which has been flavored to replicate the taste of a specific fruit or dessert (from the more general lemon or mint to the more specific Blueberry Pie or Red Velvet Cupcake) but may also involve differences in the cookie (Cinnamon-Bun Oreos have a cinnamon-flavored cookie and "frosting flavored crème"). In recent years, some limited editions have paired Oreos with other recognizable brands, including Reese's, Swedish Fish, and Peeps. Examples include:
- Birthday Cake Oreo cookies were a limited edition release in February-July 2012 to celebrate Oreo's 100th birthday, made up of two chocolate Oreo cookies with a birthday-cake flavored filling and sprinkles inside. This edition replaced the traditional design on one of the two cookies with a birthday candle and the words "OREO 100". The flavor has been reintroduced, with "double stuff" amount of crème filling, in both chocolate and golden Oreo varieties, except that the cookies no longer display the "OREO 100" print.
- Gingerbread Oreo cookies were a limited edition release made up of two golden Oreo cookies with a mild gingerbread flavored filling.
- Lemon Twist Oreo cookies were a limited edition release in 2012 that returned in 2013, made up of two golden Oreo cookies with a lemon flavored filling.
- Neapolitan Oreo cookies were a limited edition release in 2012, made up of three golden Oreo cookies with a double sandwich of chocolate and strawberry crème fillings.
- SpongeBob Oreo limited edition release in 2014, featuring chocolate cookies with yellow crème and one side of each cookie donning a SpongeBob SquarePants character design.
- Fruit Punch Oreo limited edition release in 2014, featuring vanilla cookies with fruit punch flavored crème.
- Cookie Dough Oreo limited edition release in March 2014, featuring chocolate cookies with cookie dough flavored crème.
- Caramel Apple Oreo limited edition release in August 2014 exclusively at Target stores, featuring golden Oreo cookies with caramel apple flavored crème.
- Pumpkin Spice Oreo limited edition release in September 2014. Golden Oreo cookies with pumpkin spice flavored filling.
- Red Velvet Oreo cookies were a limited edition release in February 2015. Red Oreo cookies with cream cheese flavored filling. The flavor has been reintroduced.
- Root Beer Float limited edition release in July 2014, made of two gold Oreo Cookies filled with root beer flavored crème.
- Key Lime Pie limited edition release in July 2015, made of two graham flavored Oreo cookies filled with key lime crème.
- Cinnamon Bun cinnamon cookie filled with cinnamon bun flavored crème - released January 2016.
- Filled Cupcake released in 2016, made like the Chocolate Oreo, except the center of the filling is replaced with a filling similar to that of a cupcake frosting. The cookie can be removed allowing one to lick the filling out of the center. It is similar in design to the Hostess CupCake.
- S'mores released in summer 2016 made of a Graham flavored cookie with chocolate and marshmallow flavored frosting, inspired by the campfire snack.
- Blueberry Pie released in summer 2016. Made of a pie crust cookie with a blueberry filling
- Fruity Crisp released in summer 2016. Made of two golden Oreo cookies with a fruity and colorful rice crisp crème filling.
- Swedish Fish released in summer 2016. Swedish Fish flavored red filling.
- Peeps limited edition release in February 2017, made of two vanilla cookies filled with pink "Marshmallow Peeps flavored crème". A second version was released in February 2018, instead made with Peeps-embossed chocolate cookies and purple Peeps flavored crème.
- Waffles & Syrup, limited released in May 2017, exclusively available at Albertsons stores.
- Mississippi Mud Pie Oreo cookies announced in June 2017 and sold exclusively at Dollar General stores while supplies lasted. The filling is half whipped cream and half chocolate crème.
- Chocolate Hazelnut limited edition released January 1, 2018 these have Nutella-like flavored crème with golden cookies
Use as an ethnic slur
The term "Oreo" has been used as a derogatory reference to a black person who is perceived or judged to act in a "white manner." The racial slur may be levied as an accusation that the person perpetuates the "un-level playing field for blacks". The metaphor is based on the implication that the person is fundamentally like the cookie, "black on the outside and white on the inside".
See also
- Sandwich cookie
- Newman-O's
References
External links
- Official website
- Official UK website
- Additional history notes on Oreo cookies
Source of the article : Wikipedia