Why are oreos vegan in some countries but not others?

This has puzzled me for awhile. In some countries they contain whey and in some countries they don't. Also some varieties contain whey while others do not.

@ Marina: the double stuffs I think are the vegan ones..at least in the US.

Because for different countries some ingredients are cheaper than others. For one country they think putting whey is cheaper and for some more expensive

depends on how cheap they can get ingrediants .a few pennies either way means huge profits for the bakers.

when you make commercial products like that, part of the consideration is how much the ingredients cost.

while i don't know, if i had to guess, it's a money thing.

i do know that in 3rd world countries, stuff that comes from a local farm is cheap.
stuff that comes from a factory is expensive.
it may well be that anything that requires refrigeration just costs more than they want to pay.

because, some icings contian beef extracts (dont ask why) and the filling in oreos somtimes cntains lard, or other animal extracts. (gross)
ive been a vegetarian for a while and i just learned recently that oreos do not have lard in them... but i guess in other countries they are still doing it.

i have no idea

I've had oreos in the states, and overseas. There is definitely a huge difference in taste and texture. It has to do with the lard. Sounds gross, I agree.

Being vegetarian in itself is a complex topic, from demi-veggies to PVC-shod vegans, with fish eaters, fruitarians, macrobiotics and a whole host of others in between. It's a veritable dietary minefield in our own countries. How to manage in a place a zillion miles away from the nearest health food shop? How to explain in faltering Japanese about your objections to factory farming, growth hormones, battery hens, inhuman abattoirs or a plain dislike of meat? With most Japanese oblivious to the practical implications and moral grounds of being a vegetarian, it can be hard. BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

People will be very interested in why you're a vegetarian and will expect some kind of explanation or reason. With this in mind, it's important to know where you stand in the great debate. Sticking to your guns when openly challenged (it doesn't happen often) will do a lot to improve people's understanding of, and respect for, your beliefs. Don't lie (as we were told to do at a Tokyo Orientation workshop) and say it's due to religious beliefs or an allergy (unless, of course, it is). Tell the truth and make your position quite clear about what you will and won't eat. Be willing to compromise, but don't compromise your values.

Surviving the Food Challenge
Amidst the whole furor of preparing to leave for Japan, I have to admit that wholewheat flour and agar agar were not at the top of my packing list. However, depending upon how keen a cook you are, home cooked meals may be the key to your survival. Cooking in Japan isn't a chore (well, depending upon the size your kitchen and range of your local supermarket) and most foodstuffs are readily available -- as outlined in Beth's bit. A little advance planning from home can make life as a vegetarian easier once you're here. Do send things ahead. Everything Beth mentioned is applicable to a veggie. You might also include specialist goods (TVP, soya products, agar agar, etc.) and those for specific dietary requirements. Plus, you may want to include any personal veggie favourites -- Provomel, Realeat, mixes, etc. If you take dietary/vitamin supplements, send those, too. The ones here are pricey and probably not vegetarian-friendly.

As even the most inspired cook gets tired with their retinue after awhile, a few comprehensive recipe books are a useful addition. The Moosewood series (US pub.), Rose Elliot's books (UK pub.) and the Cranks' book (UK pub) all contain inspired, practical, adaptable and delicious recipes. The BBC Good Food Vegetarian Magazine (UK pub.) has a subscription service and is reasonably priced. Issued monthly, it contains original recipes, dietary information, interesting articles, and is easily transported around the prefecture. Put it on your Christmas list now!

Eating Out
This is the one area in which the vegetarian faces the most difficulty in Japan. Most restaurants tend to offer little in the way of vegetarian food, and if you can't read the menu in the first place, it can be a nightmare. Office or school enkai's (parties) and school meals are another potential minefield. How you deal with these situations is very much an "individual" thing. It depends upon your starting point. Do you eat fish (albeit, usually cooked)? Can you pick out offending items and still eat what remains? Does the idea of pork stock for your ramen (noodles) make you balk? Are you vegan? With the right vocabulary, most restaurants will leave out the actual meat in a dish when possible, and it also enables you to inquire about the contents of a certain meal. Even "niku dame" (lit., meat is not good) will get you somewhere if repeated enough. Tempura is always a safe bet as you will be served with vegetables, as well as fish, deep fried in batter.

just curious if you are vegan for health reasons why are you eating oreo's

Because manufacturers like to screw with our minds :)

Not sure, unless it has something to do with rules within the specific countries. Maybe something like the FDA? There may be different requirements or bans on certain ingredients. Or it could be something as simple as the cost of ingredients in different countries where the factories are? I really couldn't tell you for sure, but that is all I can think of. Interesting...

I kept hearing from everyone that oreos were vegan (such as vegan forums and livejournal communities)..but when I went to the store to get some I read the ingredients and there was one or two animal ingredients listed. I thought maybe they didn't make 'em vegan anymore.
and by the way, I am in the US.


I'm sorry I know this doesn't really answer your question.

i thought ALL oreos were just a bunch of chemicals and mystery powders and fake chocolate....

There are different degrees of veganism. There are many vegans who don't eat meat, or meat & animal products, and that's it.

But some vegans are so strict, that they won't even eat refined sugar, or foods containing refined sugar because the sugar is refined using animal-derived charcoal.