The Sweet History of the Oreo Cookie | The Sugar Association (2024)

The Sweet History of the Oreo Cookie | The Sugar Association (1)

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By Laura Rutherford, Contributor

March 2023

Today is National Oreo Cookie Day! On this day in 1912, Oreo cookies were first developed and produced by Nabisco in New York City. It’s time to celebrate the iconic crunchy chocolate sandwich cookie with the sweet vanilla cream filling that Americans have enjoyed for over one hundred years.

March 6th is National Oreo Cookie Day! On this day in 1912, Oreo cookies were first developed and produced by Nabisco in New York City. It’s time to celebrate the iconic crunchy chocolate sandwich cookie with the sweet vanilla cream filling that Americans have enjoyed for over one hundred years.

The very first Oreos were sold to a grocer in Hoboken, New Jersey, named S.C. Thuesen in March of 1912. Nine and a quarter pounds of Oreos cost the store $1.85 and the tin they came in cost an additional 50 cents. The cookies were a hit and an American tradition was born. Today, the cookie can be found in more than 100 countries! On November 21, 2011, the Oreo cookie received the Guinness World record for the world’s biggest selling cookie with total sales in excess of 500 billion since its introduction in 1912.

For decades, people have debated the correct way to eat an Oreo cookie. Some like to twist the cookie in half, lick the frosting and dunk it in a glass of milk, while others like to break their cookie in half before eating. While there’s no wrong way to enjoy your tasty treat, Oreo has been promoting the “twist, link and dunk” method since 1923, when the first advertisem*nt showing “the twist” appeared on trolley cars.

Oreo has also produced many varieties of its popular cookie, as well as themes, special edition and limited-edition runs that have become popular in the 21st century. Special edition cookies have colored frosting and a stamped design in accordance with the current holiday. In 1974, the company introduced the Double Stuf Oreo with twice the filling of the original cookie. In 1992, they rolled out the Oreo Mini and released the Mega Stuf Oreo in 2013.

Oreo cookies are also beloved for their affordability, accessibility, and versatility. Countless dessert recipes from cakes and crusts to ice cream and bars feature the easy-to-use Oreo. There is even a deep-fried Oreo, introduced in 2001 by Charlie Boghosian at the L.A. County Fair. Boghosian dipped Oreos in pancake batter, deep-fried them, drizzled them with chocolate syrup and served them with powdered sugar. Since its debut, the deep-fried Oreo has become a staple at state fairs and carnivals around the country.

The Oreo brand has been owned by Mondelez International since 2012. According to Mondelez, it takes two hours to make and bake one Oreo cookie. The company operates factories in 18 countries around the world that produce 40 billion cookies per year. If stacked together, these cookies would circle the earth five times! No one knows for sure how the Oreo cookie originally got its name, although the brand is a household name now. The street in New York City where Oreo originally debuted was renamed “Oreo Way” to honor where the very first cookie in the very first Nabisco factory was located.

The taste of Oreo cookies is the taste of nostalgia for many Americans and a sweet reminder of childhood. The cookies are also a longstanding tradition in many families, so raise your milk glass and wish the Oreo a happy 111th birthday!

The Sweet History of the Oreo Cookie | The Sugar Association (2)

About the Author

Laura Rutherford graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2004 with a degree in Political Science. She is a shareholder in American Crystal Sugar Company and a member of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association (RRVSGA), the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG), and the American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists. She is on the Board of Directors of the Sugar Industry Biotechnology Council and has published articles for the WABCG, the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association newsletter, and the British Sugarbeet Review magazine in Cambs, United Kingdom.

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The Sweet History of the Oreo Cookie | The Sugar Association (2024)

FAQs

The Sweet History of the Oreo Cookie | The Sugar Association? ›

The very first Oreos were sold to a grocer in Hoboken, New Jersey, named S.C. Thuesen in March of 1912. Nine and a quarter pounds of Oreos cost the store $1.85 and the tin they came in cost an additional 50 cents. The cookies were a hit and an American tradition was born.

What is the story behind the Oreo cookie? ›

The name Oreo was trademarked on March 14, 1912. It was launched as an imitation of the original 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.

What does Oreo stand for? ›

The most common version asserts that Oreo derives from or, French for "gold" and supposedly the color of the original packaging. Others say it stands for "orexigenic," a medical term for substances that stimulate the appetite (including cannabis).

How much did Hydrox sue Oreo for? ›

— Leaf Brands, L.L.C., the maker of Hydrox cookies, seeks payment of $800 million in damages due to lost sales and reputation from Mondelez International, Inc., the maker of Oreo cookies, in a Federal Trade Commission complaint signed Aug. 17 by Ellia Kassoff, chief executive officer of Newport Beach-based Leaf Brands.

What does Oreo cookie mean in slang? ›

Oreo cookie (plural Oreo cookies) (slang, idiomatic, mildly pejorative) A black person that appears to the community to embody the social and cultural features of a white person quotations ▼ (slang, sexual) A threeway involving two black participants and one white participant between them quotations ▼

What is the mystery Oreo? ›

Here's how the corresponding contest worked: If you guessed the correct flavor, you were entered to win $50,000. Easy money, right? Well, time to take your detective hats off, because after months of suffering guessing, Oreo finally revealed that the creme is churro-flavored (...and the winner was notified).

What does R stand for in Oreo? ›

OREO is a mnemonic. O stands for Opinion; tell how you feel about the topic. R stands for Reasons; tell your readers why you feel this way. E stands for Explanations; give your readers examples of why you feel this way.

What was Oreos first slogan? ›

1923: The now-classic Oreo "twist" first appears in advertisem*nts on trolley cars. Today, about 50% of Oreo eaters twist open their Oreos before taking a bite. 1950: "Oh, Oh! Oreo" becomes the brand's slogan, set to a catchy tune.

Why did Nabisco name Oreo? ›

The most popular theories, as reported by such outlets as Tasting Table and Thought Co., include the idea that Oreo takes its name from the French word for gold (“or”), and was chosen because Oreo Biscuits originally came in a gold-colored tin.

Do they still sell Hydrox? ›

It debuted in the United States in 1908, and was manufactured by Sunshine Biscuits for over 90 years. Hydrox was largely discontinued in 1999, three years after Sunshine was acquired by Keebler, which was later acquired by Kellogg's which in turn sold the cookie line and the rights to the Keebler name to Ferrero SpA.

What is the rarest Oreo? ›

Pokemon Mew Oreo Cookie - Ultra Rare.

Why did they stop making Hydrox cookies? ›

“There were probably associations that you and I as consumers didn't like about the brand.” Kassoff said it was sales and marketing decisions, not the product, that led to Hydrox's demise. “The misconception about resurrecting brands is, 'Oh, these brands must have died because nobody wanted them anymore,'” he said.

What is the best selling cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the Oreo slogan for 2024? ›

Oreo Super Bowl 2024 TV Spot, 'The Twist of an OREO Could Change Everything' Featuring Kris Jenner - iSpot.tv.

What if a dog eats Oreos? ›

In cases where a dog has eaten one Oreo, it is likely they will experience little to no issues (such as a mild stomach upset). Pets who have eaten a few Oreos or are exhibiting mild signs of chocolate poisoning are more likely to experience stomach upset or restlessness, but overall have an excellent prognosis.

What type of creature is an Oreo? ›

Warty oreo
Order:Zeiformes
Family:Oreosomatidae
Genus:Allocyttus
Species:A. verrucosus
11 more rows

What was Oreo ripped off of? ›

The Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. But it was originally a knock-off of another cookie: the Hydrox.

What did Oreo do for their 100th anniversary? ›

With the centennial comes an international limited-edition cookie launch as buzz-worthy as the big birthday itself. New Birthday Cake OREO cookies feature colorful sprinkles in the famous crème filling held together by chocolaty OREO cookie wafers, embossed with a special birthday design.

What does Oreo stand for in banking? ›

National banks may hold other real estate owned (OREO) under certain circ*mstances for prescribed periods. Real property becomes other real estate owned through a variety of circ*mstances; for example, as conveyance in satisfaction of debts previously contracted or the relocation of banking premises.

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