>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
The company has tested the limits before. Back in 2018, Wasabi Oreos hit shelves in China, leaving many consumers questioning if they were real.¹
Then came Hot Chicken Wing Oreos, pairing sweet cookie cream with wing-inspired savory notes—an odd combination that left many scratching their heads.²
Candy Corn Oreos flopped, with critics complaining that the flavor was so sweet, it was nearly unrecognizable in blind taste tests.³
Swedish Fish Oreos drew criticism as an “artificial-tasting sugar bomb” from those brave enough to try them.⁴
Even Jelly Donut Oreos, featuring pink, fruity cream, failed to live up to expectations, tasting nothing like the real thing.⁵
Despite the backlash, Oreo’s parent company, Mondelez International, insists this approach works.
CEO Dirk Van de Put defended the strategy during an earnings call, noting that Oreo is “gaining share year-to-date” in the U.S. and “driving incremental lift” with limited editions.⁶
Oreo frequently rolls out new flavors every month or two, leveraging shock value to maintain sales. The gamble appears to have paid off: the brand now generates $4 billion in annual revenue.⁷
Oreo moves roughly 60 billion cookies each year across 100 countries, with 20 billion consumed in the United States alone.⁸
But these flavor experiments come with unexpected risks—especially when the company drifts into politically charged partnerships.
Oreo faced backlash in 2024 after conservative groups criticized its support for PFLAG, a progressive LGBTQ organization accused of promoting gender ideology to children.⁹
The National Legal and Policy Center warned that Oreo was following “the same dangerous path that Bud Light, Disney and Target have trodden.”¹⁰
Paul Chesser, head of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project, said bluntly that Oreo needed to “cut ties with PFLAG or face a boycott.”¹¹
The cautionary tale of Bud Light looms large. Partnering with Dylan Mulvaney cost the company billions in market value, as executives misjudged how customers would respond.
While Turkey & Stuffing Oreos may seem harmless next to political controversies, they reflect a deeper trend: a company desperate to remain relevant, even if it alienates loyal customers who just want a simple chocolate sandwich cookie.
These Thanksgiving flavors aren’t true innovation—they are gimmicks, novelty items unlikely to earn a repeat purchase.
The question isn’t whether Oreo can invent these odd creations. The real question is whether they should, and whether consumers will finally tell the cookie giant, enough is enough.
