Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Inventor's Grandson Calls Out Hershey for "Quietly" Changing Candy Ingredients

Brad Reese, the grandson of Reese's creator H.B. Reese, accuses Hershey of replacing the iconic candy's signature milk chocolate and peanut butter.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Brad Reese, the grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups inventor H.B. Reese, has accused The Hershey Company of "quietly replacing" the candy's signature milk chocolate exterior and peanut butter center with different ingredients in recent years. Reese claims Hershey has replaced "milk chocolate with compound coatings and peanut butter with peanut-butter-style crèmes across multiple Reese's products", diverging from the original recipe his grandfather created.

Why it matters

As the owner of the Reese's brand, Hershey has a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the iconic candy that was created by H.B. Reese over a century ago. Brad Reese's accusations raise concerns about Hershey's commitment to honoring the original Reese's recipe and protecting the brand's legacy.

The details

In an open letter posted to LinkedIn, Brad Reese claimed that Hershey has been "quietly replacing" the milk chocolate and peanut butter in Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with different ingredients like "compound coatings" and "peanut-butter-style crèmes". Reese argued this diverges from the "simple, enduring architecture" of the original candy created by his grandfather.

  • Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were first created by H.B. Reese in the 1920s.
  • Hershey acquired the rights to produce Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in 1963.
  • Brad Reese posted his open letter to Hershey on LinkedIn on February 14, 2026.

The players

H.B. Reese

The inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the 1920s.

Brad Reese

The grandson of H.B. Reese, the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

The Hershey Company

The company that acquired the rights to produce Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in 1963.

Todd Scott

A corporate manager at The Hershey Company.

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What they’re saying

“My grandfather, H. B. Reese (who invented Reese's), built Reese's on a simple, enduring architecture: milk chocolate + peanut butter. Not a flavor idea. Not a marketing construct. A real, tangible product identity that consumers have trusted for a century.”

— Brad Reese (LinkedIn)

“Right now, the Reese's story is diverging from what's inside Reese's products. And that divergence puts Reese's and the legacy behind it, at risk.”

— 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.”

— Hershey Spokesperson (Associated Press)

“Not edible.”

— Brad Reese (Associated Press)

“I used to eat a Reese's product every day. This is very devastating for me.”

— Brad Reese (Associated Press)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.