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Oreo is launching a sugar-free option as the world’s best-selling cookie brand aims to fill the snack gap and better position itself among health-conscious consumers.
Mondelēz International, the owner of the cookie, has been developing Oreo Zero Sugar for about four years and plans to release it in January 2026. Sugar-free cookies “100% authentic OREO experience” According to Michelle Deignan, vice president of marketing for the Oreo brand at Mondelēz, it’s a replica of the original.
“Until now, the sandwich cookie category has been relatively absent in the sugar-free snack category,” she said in an email to Food Dive. “This gap presented an incredible opportunity for the OREO brand to redefine what indulgence looks like.”
People want to reduce their sugar intake and still eat their favorite products. These consumers are often turned off by the lack of sugar-free options or the taste profiles of products on the market. Sugar is the “biggest barrier” that prevents some consumers from purchasing cookies, Deignan said.
More than 6 in 10 Americans are concerned about their sugar intake. According to the International Food Information Council:. Additionally, “low sugar” has been ranked among the top three qualities consumers use to define healthy foods for the past three years.
Oreo was introduced in 1912 and today is the most popular cookie sold in retail stores around the world. This accounts for a significant portion of Mondelēz’s $36 billion in annual sales, with Oreo sales exceeding $4 billion. Approximately 60 billion Oreo cookies are sold each year, one-third of which are sold in the United States alone. According to Mondelēz.
Mondelēz launches Oreo Zero Sugar in Original and Double Stuf.
Deignan said the sugar-free line offers “an invaluable opportunity to truly disrupt the (sandwich cookie) category” while providing more options for consumers who prioritize low-sugar options. It also allows the brand to “reach a whole new audience” who may not have considered the cookie category as an option for their dietary needs.
A sugar-free version of Oreo was previously released in China and Europe. Deignan said Mondelēz incorporated insights from these markets and “refined the approach” with its U.S. version.
The Chicago-based snack giant ultimately “went back to the drawing board and created this iteration from scratch” after considering consumer feedback, she said. Changes included adjusting the sweetness profile and launching stand-up pouches for the cookies.
The American version of the cookie is sweetened with a blend of maltitol, polydextrose, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium. The blend replicates the sweetness and texture of sugar while “helping minimize the impact on the iconic taste and texture of OREO cookies,” Deignan said.
The company leveraged Oreo’s popularity to expand the brand into other cookie types and food categories.
Mondelēz launched its first gluten-free Oreo in 2021. They have introduced dozens of permanent and limited-time Oreo flavors, including birthday cake and cotton candy, and have collaborated with artists such as: Lady Gaga and Post Malone A special version of the snack.
Earlier this year, Oreo has partnered with Hershey’s Reese’s brand. Introducing Cookies and Cups, a combination of two multi-billion dollar products. Mondelēz also moved Oreo beyond cookies into mini cakes known as Oreo Cakesters, licensing the brand for use in cereals, ice cream, and other foods.
“American audiences have incredibly high expectations for the OREO brand, so we won’t settle for a product launch that doesn’t fully deliver the fun and delicious experiences people associate with the brand,” said Deignan.
