3 min read- A member of the Reese family is accusing The Hershey Company of quietly changing ingredients in some Reese’s products.
- Hershey says classic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are made the same way, but acknowledges it makes “recipe adjustments” in some newer items.
- The debate is partly about labeling, which can signal different formulas.
I’m the kind of person who will defend Reese’s in basically any shape. Cup, egg, tree, pumpkin, heart—you name it, I’m eating it. So when I saw serious drama surrounding the evolution of the Reese’s recipe, there was cause for concern. Is there something wrong with my emotional support candy?
According to the New York Post, Brad Reese, the grandson of founder H. B. Reese, is calling out Hershey for allegedly cutting corners on ingredients across parts of the Reese’s lineup. His claim is that some products have shifted from milk chocolate to a cheaper compound coating made with vegetable oils, and from “real” peanut butter to peanut-butter-flavored crème. He says it’s a quality drop hiding in plain sight, too, with the same prices and (in his view) less product.
“I can’t just let it go. They’re lowering the quality of ingredients, charging the same price, and probably giving you a smaller product size,” Reese told The Post. “I’m really embarrassed as a member of the Reese family.”
Hershey pushed back, saying the original Peanut Butter Cups are still made with peanut butter and milk chocolate, while also acknowledging it has made some “recipe adjustments” in newer products to support different shapes, sizes, and spin-offs.
And then there’s the family part, which is somehow even messier than the ingredient part. The Post describes a text exchange from a relative urging him to stop, arguing that his comments were “unfounded” and embarrassing to the family.
“Brad, this is your cousin Becky. You have created a nightmare for our family and the company,” read a copy of the text message obtained by The Post. “You might be in legal trouble because [your] unfounded negative comments have affected the price of the stock.”
Meanwhile, he insists he’s speaking up because he’s ashamed of what he believes is happening to the brand’s quality.
The specific products he called out include several popular Reese’s spin-offs like White Chocolate Cups, Fast Break, Take5, Nutrageous, and Sticks. He also points to what he sees as “sneaky” wording that can show up on packaging, like “white crème” instead of white chocolate or “peanut butter crème” instead of peanut butter. His personal breaking point was a bag of peanut butter-and-chocolate hearts that he said tasted so off he tossed them.
If you’re wondering what you’re actually supposed to do with all this, here’s the practical takeaway: check the label. Mr. Reese has a point that “milk chocolate” and “white chocolate” aren’t the same as “chocolatey coating” or “white crème,” and “peanut butter” isn’t identical to “peanut butter–flavored crème.” The wording on the package will tell you which version you’re getting.
If you’re a classic-cup purist, Hershey’s insists the original cups are still the original cups. But if you’re a Reese’s maximalist like me, it doesn’t matter what the label says. Odds are it’s already in my mouth before I’ve left the store.
But hey, it’s not a totally bad idea to eat what you love and still know what you’re eating.