A California lawyer has filed a lawsuit claiming that Oreo cookies pose a health risk and should be not be made available for sale to children.

Oreos have been around for more than 90 years. With its pair of dark biscuits sandwiching a layer of white creme, the cookie has become an icon of the snack world.

San Francisco attorney Stephen Joseph is arguing that the artery-clogging trans fatty acids used in the recipe make them an unwise snack choice for young cookie monsters.

"What this lawsuit would do is ban the sale and marketing of Oreos to children until Kraft removes the hydrogenated oil from the products," Joseph said.

Hydrogenation, or the creation of trans fats, occurs when hydrogen is percolated through vegetable oil. The process results in a stable fat that can retain its spreadable or solid consistency.

For that reason, trans fat is a popular ingredient in almost every processed food product found on grocers' shelves. In Oreos, hydrogenated oils help keep the cookies crisp and the filling creamy while the pack sits on the shelf.

What's good for the product's lifespan is not so good for the consumer. While trans fats keep food fresher for longer, they can also clog arteries, raise cholesterol and increase the risk of developing heart disease.

A couple of little cookies -- two Oreos add up to seven grams of fat -- may not seem like a health hazard. But Joseph argues that over time, the popular indulgence adds up to a diet disaster. Since they were introduced in 1912, an estimated 450 billion Oreos have been eaten worldwide.

Because Kraft continues to market Oreos to kids -- despite knowing the health risks posed by their ingredients -- Joseph compares the cookie-seller to tobacco companies' efforts to market cigarettes to adults. If his lawsuit is successful, Kraft will have to close its California division, making the famous cookie sandwich unavailable in the state.

In Canada, new labelling laws will keep the cookies out of the courts by alerting consumers which foods contain the controversial additive.