In August, filled cookies became a topic of controversy on social media. Videos began circulating alleging that the filling of Oreo brand cookies, one of the best-selling globally, contained petroleum derivatives, substances considered toxic to humans.
The false allegations claimed that the food contained hexane-washed fat, a solvent derived from petroleum, and that this information was registered on the packaging under the mention that the product 'contains ingredients made by bioengineering.' This dissemination generated great apprehension among consumers, who began to fear health damage caused by the cookie, believing that this had been approved by the competent authorities.
However, this is fake news. There is no petroleum in the composition of the cookies. Although substances of this type are used in the production process of certain foods, they are not incorporated as actual ingredients in the recipe.
The mechanism works as follows: hexane is used in the manufacturing of vegetable fats, but it evaporates almost completely during processing. At the end of production, at most one milligram of hexane per kilogram of food remains, an insignificant amount that does not pose a risk to consumer health. The effective component present in the cookies is vegetable fat, not hexane, which is not even listed in the ingredients.
Filled cookies DO NOT contain petroleum.
Anvisa itself, responsible for monitoring hexane in food, issued a statement to debunk the misinformation. This document emphasizes that the food's composition—which includes items such as flour, fat, sugar, and emulsifiers—and the manufacturing phases of its components are distinct processes.
Incorrect information circulating online suggests that a known filled cookie has petroleum-derived ingredients. However, this allegation confuses the final composition of the food with substances that may be used in specific stages of the manufacture of certain inputs.
In Brazil, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) is the body responsible for coordinating, supervising, and controlling registration, inspection, surveillance, and risk control activities, establishing quality and identity standards for the food sector.
The filled cookie is fundamentally composed of flour, sugar, fat, oil, salt, leavening agents, emulsifiers, and flavorings. According to the ingredient list, none of the declared elements are derived from petroleum.
Solvent used in processing IS NOT an ingredient
One of the main points used to spread misinformation concerns hexane, a substance that can serve as a solvent in the extraction and processing of oils and fats. This does not imply, however, that the cookie contains petroleum or hexane as part of its recipe.
In Brazilian territory, Anvisa authorizes the use of hexane as a technological adjuvant, provided that the usage guidelines and limits established by Normative Instruction 211/2023 are strictly followed.
What is a technological adjuvant?
Technological adjuvants are substances intended to perform a specific function during food production. Unlike ingredients or additives, they must be eliminated throughout the industrial cycle. For this reason, such substances are not listed in the ingredients.
Legislation only allows for the occasional presence of technically inevitable residues, provided that these remain at levels considered safe for health. Before being approved, these adjuvants undergo a technical-scientific evaluation conducted by Anvisa, which analyzes the purpose, the quantity applied, the conditions of use, the removal during processing, and the safety of possible residues.
Cookies DO NOT receive individual Anvisa registration
Another point that needs clarification is the regulation method for these products. Cookies and similar items do not require prior individual registration with Anvisa. This category follows a simplified procedure, where the company must notify the start of manufacturing or importation to the competent sanitary surveillance body in the state, Federal District, or municipality.
This model allows the National Sanitary Surveillance System (SNVS) to monitor company operations, but this does not mean that every cookie undergoes a singular analysis by Anvisa before reaching the market. Therefore, it is false to state that the product contains petroleum just because a substance like hexane can be used in some phase of the production chain; the allegation mixes distinct concepts and turns a regulated industrial process into a conclusion that does not reflect the declared composition of the food.
