Brad Reese, 70, has criticized Hershey for changing the recipes of certain products, which the Daily Mail reports included significantly less chocolate. According to the Daily Mail, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have historically contained real milk or dark chocolate and peanut butter, but products have recently only been made with a coating with less chocolate. Reese accused Hershey of quietly replacing the ingredients in his grandfather's invention with cheaper compound coatings and peanut-butter-style crèmes.
In response, Hershey said the core recipes for its Hershey's chocolate bars and Reese's peanut butter cups have not changed, and at a recent investor conference, the company said it would change about 3% of select products to the original recipes but maintained it had never altered the renowned Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The Hershey Company announced that as of 2027 they would be shifting back to the classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes, but Hershey also said the changes are planned to come into effect by next year, creating a timeline contradiction. Hershey said it would improve its Kit Kat recipe for a creamier chocolate taste, and the company stated it would be transitioning its sweet portfolio to colors from natural sources, and ensuring that all Hershey's and Reese's offerings are consistent with their brand's classic milk and dark chocolate recipes.
This is just a PR stunt; there's no victory here.
Brad Reese wrote an open letter to Todd Scott, the manager, corporate brand and editorial for Hershey Co on February 14, accusing Hershey of ingredient drift across flagship brands and describing the move as a board level accountability problem that caused shareholders to sell stock. According to The Guardian - Main UK, Brad Reese described the announced reversions as just a PR stunt and said he is not satisfied and the changes were not coming quickly enough. Reese alleges Hershey changed recipes sometime after buying the Reese’s brand in the 1960s, but Reese's family said in a statement that his statements and opinions are entirely his own and do not reflect the view or position of our family.
Hershey said the changes were already under way but not in response to Reese’s criticism, saying it had previously decided to revert to classic recipes after seeing a 25% increase in research and development to fund talent, technology and nutrition science.
I opened it up, and I had about two of them, and I had to spit them out. I dumped the entire contents into my kitchen garbage can, and I kept the pouch. I checked it and it wasn't milk chocolate, it wasn't real peanut butter. I've never in my entire life spit out a Reese's product.