Oreo cookie petroleum composition claims debunked

Social media claims alleging that Oreo cookies contain petroleum-derived compounds have been identified as misinformation. Viral posts suggested the cookie filling is made using petroleum-synthesized flavoring and hexane, a petroleum solvent, rather than milk.

According to the brand's official website and mandatory FDA ingredient listings, Oreo cookies are composed of enriched flour, sugar, palm, soybean, or canola oil, cocoa, high fructose corn syrup, baking soda, calcium phosphate, salt, soy lecithin, chocolate, and artificial flavor. While hexane is a solvent used in the food industry to extract oils from seeds and grains, its use as a processing agent does not mean it remains in the final food composition. The official ingredient lists do not include petroleum-synthesized flavoring or hexane.