TWIST, LICK AND DUNK: HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, OREO! (By Melissa Crews) Happy 100th, Birthday, Oreo, the leading brand of cookies in the world! Oreos were first introduced in 1912 (Rosenburg). Since its first appearance, more than 362 billion of these delicious chocolaty cookies have been sold; that many Oreos could circle the world about 381 times (Grossman). When I think of all packaged cookies, Oreo is the most original of all. Not only does it have a fabulous one-of-a kind taste, in many flavors and varieties, Oreo knows how to present itself in an appealing and fun way. However, this cookie sandwich is not a healthy everyday snack. Not only is the Oreo milk’s favorite cookie, but it is mine as well. The 71% chocolate wafer, 29% cream filling combination is nothing but satisfying (Grossman). It was long ago when I had my very first Oreo, so long that I can’t even remember how delicious it must have been. All I know is that I have been enjoying them since I was a child, until I turned into a young teen, and just as much now as a young adult. Over the years I have tried the different varieties of Oreo, including the Oreo Pie, with an Oreo chocolate wafer crust and a creamy filling much like the Oreo’s. I also would recommend Oreoflavored ice cream or milkshakes. Oreo additionally sells holiday spirit cookies; on Halloween the cream filling is orange and on Christmas it’s red or green. I have never personally tried these cookies for fear of my mouth turning a bright, scary color. Yet I can always rely on the classic Oreo cookie sandwich. People have different ways of eating this versatile little cookie sandwich. My favorite way to eat Oreos is covered in peanut butter and soaked in milk. The perfect harmony of crispy chocolaty cookie with the nutty, creamy peanut butter, creates a symphony in your mouth as it blends with the cream filling of the Oreo, causing your soul to smile and your inner child to emerge. Another method is to drop your cookie into a cup of milk until it gets soft, then scoop it up with a spoon. But the most popular way, as Oreo commercials will tell you to eat them, happens in three steps. First you twist your cookie apart; second, lick the creaminess inside; finally, put the cookie back together, dip it in your milk, and enjoy! Nothing can make me crave this delightful treat more than those silly Oreo commercials. The company that produces Oreos, Kraft Foods, has made numerous commercials all around the world. Kraft likes to appeal to the emotions by targeting your inner child. In some advertisements, the company says, “Hanging out with your friends is more fun when you’re eating Oreos.” These advertisers do a great job of selling this product since the cookie really does bring out my inner toddler. With fun advertisements, the Oreo looks like a cookie sent from the heavens. Kraft Foods has also established an effective, easy way for you to get to your sweet cookie. With the peel-open packages you can pull back the packaging and get access to all three rows of Oreos, making it easier to get to that last cookie. In addition, this invention allows you to lay the peeling back down to reseal the cookies, keeping them as fresh as when you first bought them. The days when you used to rip the bag open, Oreos spilling and breaking all over your kitchen floor, are over. It’s a revolutionary step in the cookie packaging industry. Even though eating the entire bag of Oreos in one day is a lot simpler now, I would not advise it.
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