Hershey Does an About-Face on Its Ingredients Changes

Hershey said Wednesday it will use classic recipes for all Reese's products starting next year, a change that comes after the grandson of Reese's founder criticized the company for shifting to cheaper ingredients. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have always been made with real milk chocolate or dark chocolate and peanut butter. But a small portion of Hershey's and Reese's products, like mini Easter eggs, are now made with a coating that contains less chocolate. Hershey said that in 2027, it will shift those products to "their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes," reports the AP.

The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company said it will also be making other changes to its sweets portfolio next year, including transitioning to natural colors and enhancing Kit-Kat's recipe to make it creamier. The company said it plans to increase its research and development funding by 25% next year. "Hershey is committed to making products consumers love and that means continually reviewing our recipes to meet evolving tastes and preferences," the company said in a statement.

Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, ignited the controversy in a public letter he sent to Hershey's corporate brand manager on Valentine's Day. Hershey acknowledged some recipe changes but said it was trying to meet consumer demand for innovation. High cocoa prices have also led Hershey and other manufacturers to experiment with using less chocolate in recent years. Brad Reese is the grandson of HB Reese, who invented Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in 1928; his six sons sold his company to Hershey in 1963.