The grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups has publicly accused The Hershey Co. Of altering the recipes for many of its Reese’s products, substituting cheaper ingredients for the original milk chocolate and peanut butter. Brad Reese, 70, posted an open letter on LinkedIn February 14 addressed to Hershey’s corporate brand manager, sparking a debate over the iconic candy’s quality.
Reese alleges that Hershey has replaced milk chocolate with “compound coatings” and peanut butter with “peanut butter-style crème” in a range of products, a move he claims erodes the brand’s trust and integrity. He specifically cited Reese’s Mini Hearts, released for Valentine’s Day, as an example, noting the packaging lists “chocolate candy and peanut butter crème” rather than milk chocolate and peanut butter. “It was not edible,” Reese told the Associated Press, adding that he used to consume a Reese’s product daily and found the new formulation “very devastating.”
H.B. Reese, Brad Reese’s grandfather, left Hershey after two years to found his own candy company in 1919, inventing the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in 1928. The Reese company was later sold to Hershey in 1963.
Hershey acknowledged making “product recipe adjustments” as it expands its product line, but defended its commitment to the core combination of chocolate and peanut butter. “As we’ve grown and expanded the Reese’s product line, we build product recipe adjustments that allow us to make new shapes, sizes and innovations that Reese’s fans have come to love and ask for, while always protecting the essence of what makes Reese’s unique and special: the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter,” the company said in a statement.
The changes come as cocoa prices have risen, prompting some candy manufacturers to explore alternatives to pure chocolate. Hershey Chief Financial Officer Steven Voskuil stated in a conference call with investors last year that the company had made formula changes, but maintained the “taste profile and the specialness of our iconic brands,” claiming extensive consumer testing showed no negative impact.
Reese disputes this, stating he frequently hears from consumers that Reese’s products no longer taste the same. He likewise pointed to differences in Reese’s products sold internationally. According to a package advertised on the website of British supermarket Ocado, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland are described as having a “milk chocolate-flavored coating and peanut butter crème.” Hershey countered that its European and UK versions use the same recipe as the U.S., but labeling varies to meet stricter EU and UK regulations regarding the percentage of cocoa, milk solids, and milk fat required for products labeled as “milk chocolate.”
Reese also cited changes to other Hershey products, claiming that Reese’s Take5 and Fast Break bars, and White Reese’s, previously contained milk or white chocolate but now use alternative coatings or cremes. He invoked a quote from Hershey founder Milton Hershey – “Give them quality, that’s the best advertising” – and expressed a preference for innovation that prioritizes quality.
