Net morsels are melting over the question – is the Cookie Monster now the Veggie Monster? Could the Cookie Monster been replaced by the Veggie Monster?

Lettuce-us check the controversy.

As Sesame Street turns 40 this week, one item of chatter is what exactly happened to Cookie in season 36. Suddenly gone were the tasty morsels in his mouth, reports Alessandra Stanley for the New York Times. Now being consumed were fruits and vegetables. Did someone steal his cookie jar?

While urban myth says Cook-IE! was now Veg-GIE!, that’s false. Rather cookies are now “sometimes” food, and veggies and fruits are “anytime” food, part of the show’s healthy habits for life.

And even though we may never know what type of bird is Big Bird, we are safe to know that Cookie (and his cookies) are here to stay.

Happy birthday Cookie!