Do We Really Need 36 Types of Oreo?

Late last year, when I was living in the Hudson Valley, I stopped in my local grocery store for a quick trip. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the Oreo section—and had to double back.

Golden Oreos. Double Stuf. Mint. Birthday Cake. Mega Stuf. On and on.

So I counted. Thirty-six. There were thirty-six different types of Oreo.

As someone who loves cookies (Oreos included), I was stunned. Not only because there were 36 types, but because the cookie aisle was just the beginning—Chips Ahoy, Pepperidge Farm, animal crackers, refrigerated cookie dough, frozen cookie dough, bakery cookies. Meanwhile, the produce section at that same store had far less variety.

Do we really need more versions of Oreos than varieties of vegetables?

🍪 Ultra-Processed Foods Are Everywhere

This isn’t just about Oreos. Research shows that 73% of the food in U.S. grocery stores is ultra-processed, and nearly 60% of what Americans eat falls into that category. These foods are, on average, 52% cheaper than minimally processed alternatives—one reason they dominate store shelves.

The NOVA classification system helps explain:

• Group 1: Unprocessed or minimally processed (fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs).

• Group 2: Processed ingredients (butter, oils, herbs).

• Group 3: Processed foods with a few ingredients (bread, jam, cheese).

• Group 4: Ultra-processed foods with additives, flavor enhancers, and ingredients you’d never use at home. (Oreos definitely belong here.)

Researchers in Brazil first developed this system after noticing that even as sugar consumption decreased, obesity and type 2 diabetes rates were climbing. The culprit? An increase in ultra-processed foods.

🌱 What We Can Do (Individually)

Fixing our food system will require policy-level change, but there are things we can do in our own kitchens and shopping carts:

• Shop the perimeter. Most whole foods—produce, meat, dairy—are found here. (Though grains, beans, and other staples are still worth a middle-aisle visit.)

• Choose budget-friendly staples. Dried beans, lentils, rice, and frozen or canned veggies are often cheaper than packaged snacks.

• Support farmers markets + local shops. You’ll often find fresher, more nutrient-dense produce—and even discover fun varietals (I fell in love with cucamelons this way).

• Cook at home with shortcuts. Tools like an Instant Pot make it easier to prepare whole foods without spending hours in the kitchen.

• Try an ultra-processed “reset.” Cut them out for a few weeks, then reintroduce them. You’ll likely notice what I did: they taste good in the moment, but leave you sluggish and unsatisfied.

🎯 The Big Picture

We can’t eliminate ultra-processed foods from our lives (Oreos still tempt me). But every time we choose real food over packaged snacks, we shift the balance a little. And when we realize there are 36 types of Oreo and only six types of produce at my local farmers market, it’s worth asking: shouldn’t that be the other way around?