A friend recently suggested that Oreos (Nabisco) contain animal fat… is this true? It’s not listed in the ingredients, so normally I’d let it be, but I’ve heard more than one person say this, and am worried, since I’m a vegetarian. 
It’s possible. Shortening can be made from either animal or vegetable sources, and I’ve never seen a label that distinguished between the two. Which means, if this is a serious concern for you, you may end up having to forgo pretty much all baked goods.
I think the only way you’re you could possibly find out which type Nabisco uses in Oreos would be to call or write them. Even then, you may not get the Straight Dope on this. More likely you’ll get some marketing gobbledy-gook. It’s also possible the use both kinds, depending on availability and price, since there is no discernable difference in the actual products.
That was I was afraid of. Thanks though.
Um, actually, this is not true, you must not have been reading carefully. 
The whole point of the food labeling laws is to tell the American consumer exactly what’s in the food, and this extends to what kind of fat it is. All labels will say either “lard” or “beef fat” or “Partially hydrogenated soybean oil” or “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil”, like that. They’re very specific. Labels don’t say merely, “Fat” or “Shortening”. They have to say what kind of fat or shortening.
A quick survey of the baked goods in my kitchen turns up ginger snaps, graham crackers, Fig Newtons, and Double Stuff Oreos, and they all say, not vaguely, “shortening”, but very specifically, “partially hydrogenated soybean oil”. In other words, Crisco.
Ann Smith, official Nabisco spokesperson, says that Oreos haven’t contained lard since the 1970s, so you may eat them with a good conscience.
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/12.23.99/oreo-9951.html
And “marketing gobbledygook” only holds true for those companies with secret proprietary recipes, like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Coca Cola. Nabisco’s Oreos ingredients are right there on the label, for all to see.
Most importantly, Oreos are now certified kosher by the Orthodox Union, generally considered the premier kosher certifying organization. For more about it, click here.
If animal fats are a concern for you, look for one of the kosher symbols on packaged foods. It means there won’t be pork fat, and any meat product will have to be noted. OU’s symbol is a “u” inside a circle, and if the product contains any sort of meat product*, the symbol will have an “m” next to it. If it has dairy products - I think Oreos do - there will be a “d.” If a product has neither dairy nor meat, the symbol will be plain, or it might have a small “p” for “parve.”
There’s also the “k” inside a circle (for the Organized Kashrus Laboratories), “star-k”, etc. The symbols are also called heckshers, and here’s a fairly exhaustive list.
*“meat” is defined very broadly, and certainly includes things like suet or meat-derived fats.
Argh, I missed the importat part: because they’re certified kosher and don’t have a “meat” notation, we know that Oreos do not contain animal fat. I think they have “d” for “dairy,” and of course under kosher law they can’t have both meat and dairy.
Relax, if. Davebear is completely wrong and Duck Duck Goose is correct.
Just a small nitpick. Many foods that do not contain any dairy products still have the kosher “d” symbol on them because they are processed on equipment that is also used for foods that do contain dairy products.
This tiny chance of cross-contamination keeps them from being pareve and also is of concern to those with severe milk protein allergies. Vegans should also take note.
It is not a concern for those whose only concern is lactose intolerance, though.
And now I’m headed to Decatur, so that I can befriend DDG and swipe some of those Double Stuf Oreos.
Double the shortening! Yum!
I’m pretty sure they sell them in San Diego, Scout.
Noooo! Then I will be forced to eat the whole package in one sitting.
Don’t you make me do it!
Boy, this is a relief! I mean, it would be a crime if you couldn’t dunk your Oreos in milk!