{"id":2404,"date":"2026-02-20T15:55:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T15:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2404"},"modified":"2026-02-20T15:55:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T15:55:19","slug":"reeses-family-feuds-with-hersheys-over-ingredient-change-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2404","title":{"rendered":"Reese&#8217;s Family Feuds With Hershey&#8217;s Over Ingredient Change Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-journey-body=\"standard-article\">\n<div class=\"css-hl6xtf e1wzc3k51\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.delish.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/clock-regular.4ddebeb.svg\" alt=\"Estimated read time\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><span class=\"css-p1hv13 e1wzc3k50\">3 min read<\/span><\/div>\n<ul data-node-id=\"0\" class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"0.0\">A member of the Reese family is accusing The Hershey Company of quietly changing ingredients in some Reese\u2019s products.<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"0.1\">Hershey says classic Reese\u2019s Peanut Butter Cups are made the same way, but acknowledges it makes \u201crecipe adjustments\u201d in some newer items.<\/li>\n<li data-node-id=\"0.2\">The debate is partly about labeling, which can signal different formulas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-18pb4rg emevuu60\"\/>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"2\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">I\u2019m the kind of person who will defend Reese\u2019s in basically any shape. Cup, egg, tree, pumpkin, heart\u2014you name it, I\u2019m eating it. So when I saw serious drama surrounding the evolution of the Reese\u2019s recipe, there was cause for concern. Is there something wrong with my emotional support candy?<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">According <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/18\/business\/grandson-of-reeses-founder-alleges-hershey-has-switched-to-cheaper-ingredients-sparking-family-feud\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/18\/business\/grandson-of-reeses-founder-alleges-hershey-has-switched-to-cheaper-ingredients-sparking-family-feud\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"to the New York Post\" data-node-id=\"3.1\" class=\"body-link css-8bav6j emevuu60\">to the <em data-node-id=\"3.1.1\">New York Post<\/em><\/a>, Brad Reese, the grandson of founder H. B. Reese, is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/bradreesecom_reeses-reesessticks-hersheytrust-activity-7427749749484847106-gFUw?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAABFmFecBW_w9Gg-5rFkxzP_fNyUP_NFeaiM\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/bradreesecom_reeses-reesessticks-hersheytrust-activity-7427749749484847106-gFUw?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAABFmFecBW_w9Gg-5rFkxzP_fNyUP_NFeaiM\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"calling out\" data-node-id=\"3.3\" class=\"body-link css-8bav6j emevuu60\">calling out<\/a> Hershey for allegedly cutting corners on ingredients across parts of the Reese\u2019s lineup. His claim is that some products have shifted from milk chocolate to a cheaper compound coating made with vegetable oils, and from \u201creal\u201d peanut butter to peanut-butter-flavored cr\u00e8me. He says it\u2019s a quality drop hiding in plain sight, too, with the same prices and (in his view) less product.<\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"editorial-link\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-17\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"embed\">\n<aside class=\"css-1fm2v8u e94w1mj9\">\n<h6 class=\"css-18s47pf e94w1mj7\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-before\" class=\"css-0 eagam8p0\"\/><span class=\"css-8lle59 e94w1mj5\">Related Story<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-after\" class=\"css-0 eagam8p1\"\/><\/h6>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"5\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">\u201cI can\u2019t just let it go. They\u2019re lowering the quality of ingredients, charging the same price, and probably giving you a smaller product size,\u201d Reese told <em data-node-id=\"5.1\">The Post<\/em>. \u201cI\u2019m really embarrassed as a member of the Reese family.\u201d<\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"watch-next\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-18\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"embed\"\/>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"7\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Hershey pushed back, saying the original Peanut Butter Cups are still made with peanut butter and milk chocolate, while also acknowledging it has made <em data-node-id=\"7.1\">some<\/em> \u201crecipe adjustments\u201d in newer products to support different shapes, sizes, and spin-offs.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"8\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">And then there\u2019s the family part, which is somehow even messier than the ingredient part. <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/18\/business\/grandson-of-reeses-founder-alleges-hershey-has-switched-to-cheaper-ingredients-sparking-family-feud\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/18\/business\/grandson-of-reeses-founder-alleges-hershey-has-switched-to-cheaper-ingredients-sparking-family-feud\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"The Post describes\" data-node-id=\"8.1\" class=\"body-link css-8bav6j emevuu60\">The <em data-node-id=\"8.1.1\">Post<\/em> describes<\/a> a text exchange from a relative urging him to stop, arguing that his comments were \u201cunfounded\u201d and embarrassing to the family.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">\u201cBrad, this is your cousin Becky. You have created a nightmare for our family and the company,\u201d read a copy of the text message obtained by <em data-node-id=\"9.1\">The Post. \u201c<\/em>You might be in legal trouble because [your] unfounded negative comments have affected the price of the stock.\u201d<br data-node-id=\"9.3\"\/><\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"body-image\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-19\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"embed\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-y6m8k e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-uwraif e1fodxfw3\">\n<div class=\"css-p7qblm e1mlxuuw0\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"us products in german retail\" title=\"US products in German retail\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"8205\" height=\"5083\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/july-2025-hesse-frankfurt-main-in-the-awafs-american-food-news-photo-1771537810.pjpeg?crop=0.620xw:1.00xh;0.215xw,0&amp;resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/july-2025-hesse-frankfurt-main-in-the-awafs-american-food-news-photo-1771537810.pjpeg?crop=0.620xw:1.00xh;0.215xw,0&amp;resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/july-2025-hesse-frankfurt-main-in-the-awafs-american-food-news-photo-1771537810.pjpeg?crop=0.620xw:1.00xh;0.215xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/july-2025-hesse-frankfurt-main-in-the-awafs-american-food-news-photo-1771537810.pjpeg?crop=0.620xw:1.00xh;0.215xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/july-2025-hesse-frankfurt-main-in-the-awafs-american-food-news-photo-1771537810.pjpeg?crop=0.620xw:1.00xh;0.215xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/july-2025-hesse-frankfurt-main-in-the-awafs-american-food-news-photo-1771537810.pjpeg?crop=0.620xw:1.00xh;0.215xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/july-2025-hesse-frankfurt-main-in-the-awafs-american-food-news-photo-1771537810.pjpeg?crop=0.620xw:1.00xh;0.215xw,0&amp;resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" data-dynamic-svg=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.delish.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/pinterest.e8cf655.svg?primary=%2523ffffff\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"dynamic-svg-base\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" alt=\"pinterest\" class=\"css-4lml0h e1mlxuuw1\"\/><\/div>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-10bgxwr e1geg53v2\">picture alliance<\/span><span class=\"css-10t3vcu e1geg53v0\">\/\/<\/span><span class=\"css-10bgxwr e1geg53v1\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"11\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Meanwhile, he insists he\u2019s speaking up because he\u2019s ashamed of what he believes is happening to the brand\u2019s quality.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">The specific products he called out include several popular Reese\u2019s spin-offs like White Chocolate Cups, Fast Break, Take5, Nutrageous, and Sticks. He also points to what he sees as \u201csneaky\u201d wording that can show up on packaging, like \u201cwhite cr\u00e8me\u201d instead of white chocolate or \u201cpeanut butter cr\u00e8me\u201d 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.<br data-node-id=\"12.3\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">If you\u2019re wondering what you\u2019re actually supposed to <em data-node-id=\"13.1\">do<\/em> with all this, here\u2019s the practical takeaway: check the label. Mr. Reese has a point that \u201cmilk chocolate\u201d and \u201cwhite chocolate\u201d aren\u2019t the same as \u201cchocolatey coating\u201d or \u201cwhite cr\u00e8me,\u201d and \u201cpeanut butter\u201d isn\u2019t identical to \u201cpeanut butter\u2013flavored cr\u00e8me.\u201d The wording on the package will tell you which version you\u2019re getting.<\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"editorial-link\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-20\" data-node-id=\"14\" class=\"embed\">\n<aside class=\"css-1fm2v8u e94w1mj9\">\n<h6 class=\"css-18s47pf e94w1mj7\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-before\" class=\"css-0 eagam8p0\"\/><span class=\"css-8lle59 e94w1mj5\">Related Story<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-after\" class=\"css-0 eagam8p1\"\/><\/h6>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">If you\u2019re a classic-cup purist, Hershey\u2019s insists the original cups are still the original cups. But if you\u2019re a Reese\u2019s maximalist like me, it doesn\u2019t matter what the label says. Odds are it\u2019s already in my mouth before I\u2019ve left the store.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"16\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">But hey, it\u2019s not a totally bad idea to eat what you love and still know what you\u2019re eating.<\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"editorial-link\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-21\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"embed\">\n<aside class=\"css-fcvumo e94w1mj1\"\/><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>3 min read A member of the Reese family is accusing The Hershey Company of quietly changing ingredients in some Reese\u2019s products. Hershey says classic Reese\u2019s Peanut Butter Cups are made the same way, but acknowledges it makes \u201crecipe adjustments\u201d in some newer items. The debate is partly about labeling, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}