Reese's Inventor's Grandson Accuses Hershey of Cutting Corners

Brad Reese says Hershey has replaced key ingredients in Reese's products, hurting the brand's quality and trust.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The grandson of H.B. Reese, the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, has accused The Hershey Company of replacing milk chocolate and peanut butter with cheaper ingredients in many Reese's products. Brad Reese claims this has hurt the quality and integrity of the iconic Reese's brand that his grandfather built.

Why it matters

The Reese's brand is one of Hershey's most valuable and recognizable products, so any perceived decline in quality could significantly impact consumer trust and the company's reputation. This dispute also highlights the challenges large food manufacturers face in balancing innovation, cost pressures, and maintaining the essence of classic products.

The details

According to Brad Reese, Hershey has replaced milk chocolate with compound coatings and peanut butter with peanut crème in multiple Reese's products in recent years. He says this includes items like Reese's Take5 and Fast Break bars, as well as the new Reese's Mini Hearts released for Valentine's Day, which he found "not edible." Hershey acknowledges making some recipe changes but says it is trying to meet consumer demand for new innovations while protecting the "essence" of Reese's.

  • In the early 2000s, Hershey released White Reese's made with white chocolate.
  • In recent years, Hershey has made changes to the recipes of multiple Reese's products.

The players

Brad Reese

The 70-year-old grandson of H.B. Reese, the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, who has accused Hershey of replacing key ingredients in Reese's products and hurting the brand's quality and trust.

H.B. Reese

The inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, who formed his own candy company in 1919 after working at Hershey for two years. His six sons eventually sold the company to Hershey in 1963.

The Hershey Company

The large American chocolate and confectionery company that acquired the Reese's brand when it bought H.B. Reese's candy company in 1963.

Steven Voskuil

The Chief Financial Officer of The Hershey Company, who acknowledged the company has made some changes to its formulas but said they were careful to maintain the "taste profile and the specialness" of their iconic brands.

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What they’re saying

“How does The Hershey Co. continue to position Reese's as its flagship brand, a symbol of trust, quality and leadership, while quietly replacing the very ingredients (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that built Reese's trust in the first place?”

— Brad Reese (LinkedIn)

“As we've grown and expanded the Reese's product line, we make product recipe adjustments that allow us to make new shapes, sizes and innovations that Reese's fans have come to love and ask for, while always protecting the essence of what makes Reese's unique and special: the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.”

— The Hershey Company (The Associated Press)

“I would say in all the changes that we've made thus far, there has been no consumer impact whatsoever. As you can imagine, even on the smallest brand in the portfolio, if we were to make a change, there's extensive consumer testing.”

— Steven Voskuil, Chief Financial Officer, The Hershey Company (Conference call)

What’s next

Brad Reese plans to continue voicing his concerns about Hershey's changes to Reese's products and the impact on the brand's quality and reputation.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the delicate balance large food companies must strike between innovation, cost-cutting, and preserving the integrity of iconic brands that consumers have come to trust. Hershey's handling of this situation could have lasting implications for the Reese's brand and the company's reputation.