Hershey Will Return To Real Chocolate Following Backlash Over Recipe Changes

There are a staggering number of brands owned by Hershey. Since 1894, the company has been making chocolate-based candies, and over the last century has acquired several other brands while expanding its existing ones. But according to Bloomberg, The Hershey Company is set to change some of the chocolates used in select Reese's and Hershey's products — but only a few. Hershey currently utilizes what is described as a chocolate compound to coat the outsides of chocolate candy products, but the brand will soon revert back to its "classic milk and dark chocolate recipes." These changes won't fully take effect until 2027, so don't expect to see products affected immediately.

The change appears to be spurred by criticism from Brad Reese, the grandson of H.B. Reese, the inventor of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Reese has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the brand's current products. Back in February, Reese wrote an open letter on LinkedIn to Hershey's corporate brand manager, stating that his grandfather's legacy (and trust from consumers) was at risk. He criticized the company's decision to replace milk chocolate with compound coatings, adding that several products even replaced the peanut butter with "peanut-butter-style crèmes."

However, Kirk Tanner, The Hershey Company CEO, told Bloomberg that he had already decided to enact certain changes to select chocolate products long before Reese made his complaints public. "We're going to make some small investments to really align the portfolio to what the brand stands for," Tanner explained. "That consistency is important across the brand."

While the ingredients for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have stayed consistent since its invention back in 1928, not all Reese's products use simply peanut butter and milk chocolate. Many products, however, like mini Reese's cups, foil-wrapped items, and mini Easter eggs are currently encased in a coating that has less real chocolate than the original recipes. This change also affects the Fast Break candy bar, which currently consists of less than 2% real chocolate.

According to NBC News, The Hershey Company has since admitted that, as the Reese's line grew to include more than just the classic peanut butter cups, the candy's original recipe was "tinkered with." Hershey declined to provide the news outlet with a full list of products that will revert to the candies' original recipes.

While this may seem like a big announcement, The Hershey Company added that these changes will only affect a very small portion of Hershey's products, and less than 3% of Reese's overall products. In addition to Hershey's and Reese's products, the company plans to "enhance" its Kit Kat's recipe for a creamier chocolate taste. Artificial coloring will likewise be phased out by late 2027.