A man from Little Rock, Ark., decided to try sugar-free, double-stuffed Oreos and was impressed by the cookies’ great taste. However, he quickly regretted his decision when his stomach started to growl during a Zoom call.
In a video with over 1.3 million views, type 1 diabetes activist and TikToker Neil Greathouse (@the.betes) warned others to avoid the sugar-free version of the classic cookies unless they want to “play chicken with [their] own colon.”
“I’m here to save you from the darkest chapter of your gastrointestinal history,” he jokes.
Greathouse calls out Mondelez International’s Nabisco, the brand behind Oreos, for adding sorbitol, maltitol, and added fiber to the sugar-free cookies. He claims that the combination of sugar alternatives with fiber quickly upset his stomach after he ate five Oreos.
“12 minutes later, that tiny flutter is going to hit your abdomen, like your colon politely clearing its throat,” he says.
Soon, the flutter turns into full-blown pain as he attempts to sit through a Zoom meeting.
“You’re one clench away from being a local news headline,” Greathouse continues, fearing his co-workers could see the distress on his face during the call.
Can The Ingredients In Sugar-Free Oreos Upset Your Stomach?
Maltitol and sorbitol are both sugar alcohols, which, while not actual sugar, can give foods a sweet taste.
However, the ingredients can cause gastrointestinal issues like bloating, cramping, and diarrhea in some people, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These side effects occur because the body has difficulty digesting the sugar alcohols and sends water to the colon, mimicking a laxative.
Greathouse also warns that people with type 1 diabetes should reconsider foods with maltitol, despite it being a sugar alternative.
“Maltitol can still bump your blood sugar up, so yes, your glucose will get a little bit of a rise along with a category five evacuation,” he says. “My advice is to take a couple units of insulin and eat the real Oreo.”
Have Other Viewers Had Sugar-Free Snack Disasters?
In the comments, other viewers shared their unfortunate bathroom experiences after consuming too many sugar-free treats.
“So recent diabetic here. Saw at Walmart surgar free twizzlers and Hershey bars. I have 1/4 of thr twizzlers when I got home. I lost about five pounds that day. Remember to hydrate folks. Having a bidet is key here,” one wrote.
Another admitted, “Can confirm all this is true; once I ate an entire sugar-free pumpkin pie and then spent 7 hours running to the terlet.”
“I learned the hard way that my body cannot handle anything that ends in ‘tol,'” a third shared.
Others joked about pranking people with the sugar-free Oreos.
“So… what you’re quietly saying is to bring these cookies to the office and leave them open in the kitchen for that coworker you absolutely hate,” a commenter suggested.
However, some say that Greathouse’s review actually encouraged them to try the sugar-free Oreos themselves.
“So your saying if you’re constipated and need a cleanse, eat 5 sugar free double stuffed oreos?” a viewer asked.
A second joked, “I’m clearing my entire weekend, charging my phone to 100%, and doing an Oreo cleanse.”
@the.betes If you eat the sugar-free Double Stuf @OREO …your colon will unsubscribe from your body. // Year 33 Day 302 💉🩸 #YourBestT1DYear
BroBible reached out to Greathouse and Mondelez International via email for further comment.