The Hershey Company says it will return all Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup products to their classic recipes after criticism over the use of cheap ingredients.
The company confirmed Wednesday that products using low-chocolate coatings, such as some seasonal items, will revert to traditional recipes by 2027.
Reese’s products have historically been made with milk or dark chocolate and peanut butter.
Hershey said the changes would reinstate its “classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes” across the range.
The move comes after Brad Reese, grandson of brand founder HB Reese, publicly criticized the company.
In a letter shared on LinkedIn, he questioned the direction of the brand.
“How does the Hershey Company continue to position Reese’s as its flagship brand, a symbol of trust, quality and leadership, while quietly replacing the same ingredients (milk chocolate + peanut butter) that built Reese’s trust in the first place?” Reese wrote, according to the Associated Press.
Hershey acknowledged that some recipe adjustments have been made, citing rising cocoa prices and changing consumer demand.
In a statement, the company said: “Hershey’s is committed to creating products consumers love and that means constantly reviewing our recipes to meet changing tastes and preferences.”
Along with the changes, Hershey plans to invest more in research and development and introduce natural colors into its product line.
