Reader: Praise the lard! Shortening ruined Oreos

The Oreo turned 100 last year, which means that the cookie has had its lovers and haters for a century. Count Jenn Wohletz among the latter; she included Oreos on her list of five terrible foods. Although many readers love the cookie, one says it's even worse than it used...

By Patricia Calhoun

April 16, 2013

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The Oreo turned 100 last year, which means that the cookie has had its lovers and haters for a century. Count Jenn Wohletz among the latter; she included Oreos on her list of five terrible foods.

Although many readers love the cookie, one says it's even worse than it used to be. See also: - From Oreos to margarine: Five terrible foods -- and how we got stuck with them -McFish Bites: McDonald's sure knows how to bait a hook - Five foods that are just fine to waste -- starting with Oreos

Says Denise:

Oreos were good tasting in the '70s when they were still made with lard. The public pressure to replace the lard with shortening created the overly crunchy, bland- tasting cookie it is today.

Were the '70s better in reality? Or just in our memories? Or Oreos today really that terrible? Post your thoughts below, or join the Oreo oracles already talking here.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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