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WhoNu Cookies: Oreo Copycat, Nutrition Impostor

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Check out this new product, a “nutrition rich cookie”. At a first glance, WhoNu looks like an Oreo. But the package promises so much more:

  • As much fiber as a bowl of oatmeal
  • As much calcium and vitamin D as an 8 oz glass of milk
  • As much vitamin C as a cup of blueberries.

WOW! Oatmeal, milk, and blueberries all rolled into a tasty cookie. This is too good to be true!

What you need to know:

Grandpa used to say “If it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t.” Well, you were right gramps.

Folks, this is a cookie, a source of pleasure, not nutrition. All the nutrient claims are based on adding vitamins and minerals to what would otherwise be a run of the mill cookie. And not even a tasty one.

Here is the ingredient list:

sugar, wheat flour, vegetable oils (canola, palm, palm kernel oil, soybean oil and partially hydrogenated cottonseed and coconut oil), cocoa, dextrose, polydextrose, yellow corn flour, corn syrup, baking soda, soy lecithin, salt, natural and artificial flavor, monoglycerides, vanilla extract.

vitamins and minerals: calcium carbonate, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), iron orthophosphate, zinc oxide, copper oxide, manganese gluconate, iodine, chromium chloride, vitamin e (tocopherol acetate), vitamin a (palmitate), biotin, vitamin b3 (niacin), vitamin b5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin d3, vitamin k (phytonadione), vitamin b1 (thiamine mononitrate), vitamin b6, vitamin b2, folic acid. contains wheat, soy, milk.

Sugar is the first ingredient. There’s trans fat hidden in the partially hydrogenated oil, there are fillers. There are flavors added. It a cookie, no hiding that. Added to the cookie is a laundry list of vitamins and minerals whose bio-availability is unclear. Compare to getting these nutrients from whole foods.

What to do at the supermarket:

If you’re going to have a cookie, have a tasty cookie and enjoy it. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking it’s anything other than that.

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  • Elaine Hodges

    If sugar is the first ingredient then the rest of it is doesn’t really matter.

  • Emily

    I couldn’t agree more. It’s infuriating to watch those commecercials. Just teach kids to eat real food. Stop hiding it in drinks and cookies.

  • Guest

    These cookies aren’t advertised as low-calorie or low-fat, so don’t expect them to be. These cookies are not imposters, they’re exactly what they’re advertised to be-cookies with added vitamins and minerals.

    • JessH

      The problem is that people read “as much fiber as bowl of oatmeal” and “as much calcium and vitamid d as a glass of milk” and they think that the product is as healthy overall as oatmeal or milk is… I would argue that writing “nutrition rich” in big letters on the product does make it an imposter.

  • SarahK

    A bowl of oatmeal, glass of milk, and cup of blueberries sounds much more satisfying!

  • Sophia

    There is another Oreo copycat that has been in the market for quite awhile. Cream-o!

  • Cmurphyrd

    As a dietitian and a mom I am so sick and tired of companies trying to make junk food look healthy.  If you want to eat right do the cooking and baking yourself.  I know it’s extra work but it will save you lots of time and money (in medical bills) later in life…you’re health is worth the time!

  • JessH

    There were coupons for these cookies in the sunday paper this last weekend.  I havent seen the ad, but for whatever reason one of my girl friends saw these for the first time and thought they were like pediasure in cookie form.  I am not surprised she thought this, looking at the packaging (without flipping it over and reading the ingredients or without the knowledge of what ingredients to look for) any layperson might think that they’re a healthy alternative to an oreo  or other cookie. I am just appalled at the marketing scam they’re using.  Ugh.

  • Hamza Jeddawi

    I wish the author can talk from experience .. the product isnt saying its healthier :S it just says it is rich with nutrients! So not even low sugar is mentioned .. anyways I personally tried the cookies and they are much better than the other imposters and oreo look-a-likes. So as a parent I would rather give my kids this cookie which tastes good so they are happy and makes me feel good since it is vitamins enriched!

  • Zorkbob

    It’s food!  Just as bad for you as Oreo, BUT BETTER!

  • Ten

    So are you saying that their claims of having as much fiber and vitamins are UNTRUE by quoting “gramps”?  Because you can say that it’s not a tasty cookie and that’s your opinion.  But to say that the nutritional information is factually incorrect is something else entirely.  Frankly, I think these cookies taste just as good as Oreos.  If I’m going to eat a chocolate sandwich cookie, I’ll go with these rather than Oreos.  Like going to Kroger which gives me points off my gas purchases for each dollar I spend versus Food Lion, I’m still going for the same reason and spending same amount but my choices is made for the benefit one has that the other doesn’t.  Unless, again, you’re saying the claim is false.  I already know it’s a freakin’ processed cookie, just like the Oreo is, which I was going to eat instead.

  • ppp

    POOP I WANT 1