If you’ve ever felt a little conflicted about Oreos, this week brought an update that’s actually worth paying attention to.
Mondelez International the parent company behind the Oreo brand, has officially updated its animal testing policy. The company now states on its website that it does not test on animals or fund animal testing, except when it’s legally required and no alternative methods are available.
For many ethical vegans, that clarification matters because animal testing at the parent-company level has been a long-standing concern.
An important clarification:
This often gets misunderstood, so it’s worth noting that Oreos themselves as a brand were never tested on animals.
The issue wasn’t the cookies per se, it was Mondelez’s broader research practices. In the past, the company allowed certain internal “nutritional science” studies involving animals. These weren’t required for food safety or regulatory approval, but they still crossed a line for many people.
With this updated policy now published directly on Mondelez’s website, that loophole appears to be closed.
Why the change now?
This didn’t just happen quietly behind the scenes.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) took a strategic approach by becoming Mondelez shareholders. That gave them the ability to file shareholder resolutions, raise the issue directly with leadership, and keep sustained pressure on the company to clarify its position on animal testing.
Whatever your feelings about PETA, this is a clear example of advocacy and shareholder action leading to an actual policy shift.
So does this mean Oreos are completely vegan?
Not so fast. If animal testing was the main reason you avoided Oreos or other Mondelez brands, then this update removes a major ethical hurdle but there could be other concerns for some.
As with most large packaged food companies, there are still personal judgment calls. Sugar sourcing often comes up, since sugar can sometimes be filtered using bone char. That’s a processing method rather than an ingredient, it’s widely used across the industry, and it’s largely unavoidable in mainstream packaged foods. For many people (myself included), it’s something to be aware of rather than a dealbreaker.
The key point here is transparency. Mondelez has now clearly stated where it stands, and consumers can make more informed choices.
Oreo has dropped some new flavors
Zero Sugar Oreos
Oreo recently launched its first Zero Sugar Oreos, available in Original and Double Stuff varieties. They’re sweetened with sugar alternatives (no aspartame) and are positioned as a permanent addition to the lineup. See ingredients pix below.
Whether sugar-free cookies are your thing or not, it’s a pretty big move for a brand that’s been around this long. I spotted them at a smaller regional grocery store so I would imagine they’ll be at most major retailers soon.
Cookie Dough Oreos Are Back
If you remember Cookie Dough Oreos from the early 2010s, they’re back.
The revived version features cookie-dough-flavored crème with chocolate chip pieces between golden cookies, and it’s a limited-time release. Nostalgia fans, consider yourselves notified.
Is Mondelez suddenly the gold standard? No. But this is still a clear step in the right direction. For vegans who avoided Oreos because of animal testing concerns, this update removes a long-standing ethical hurdle. It’s not about perfection in my opinion, it’s about progress, accountability, and companies finally responding when people ask better questions. If you enjoy Oreos, you may feel a little better now knowing about this policy change.
