Hershey's Faces Backlash Over Reese's Recipe Changes

Founder's grandson criticizes substitution of key ingredients amid rising cocoa prices

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Hershey's, the iconic American confectioner, is facing growing criticism over changes to the recipes of some of its most popular products, including those under the Reese's brand. Brad Reese, the grandson of Reese's founder H.B. Reese, has publicly accused the company of prioritizing cost-cutting over quality by substituting cheaper ingredients like 'compound coatings' and 'peanut-butter-style crème' for traditional milk chocolate and peanut butter.

Why it matters

The controversy highlights the delicate balance confectionery companies face between maintaining product quality and managing rising input costs like cocoa. Consumers are increasingly sensitive to perceived changes in quality, and the situation raises questions about brand loyalty and trust, which could impact Hershey's sales.

The details

Reese alleges that Hershey's has replaced milk chocolate with 'compound coatings' and peanut butter with 'peanut-butter-style crème' in several Reese's products, including Reese's Unwrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Creme Mini Hearts, Reese's Take 5, and Reese's Fast Break bars. He also suggests that Reese's Peanut Butter Cups sold in parts of Europe no longer contain milk chocolate. Hershey acknowledged making 'product recipe adjustments' but defended the changes as necessary to meet consumer demand for innovation.

  • On February 14, 2026, Brad Reese detailed his accusations in a LinkedIn post.
  • Global cocoa futures have been climbing in recent months, driven by poor harvests in West Africa.

The players

Hershey's

An iconic American confectioner and the parent company of the Reese's brand.

Brad Reese

The grandson of H.B. Reese, the founder of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, who has publicly criticized Hershey's for changing the recipes of Reese's products.

H.B. Reese

The founder of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, who sold the company to Hershey's in 1963.

MrBeast

A prominent social media personality who has weighed in on the controversy, stating that his own company uses 'real peanut butter.'

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What they’re saying

“Reese's became iconic because my grandfather built it on real ingredients and real integrity.”

— Brad Reese, Grandson of Reese's founder (LinkedIn)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The Reese's controversy highlights the challenges confectionery companies face in balancing cost-cutting measures with maintaining consumer trust and brand reputation. Hershey's will need to clearly communicate its rationale for the recipe changes and demonstrate its commitment to quality to mitigate the damage to its brand image.