Hershey Vows to Restore Classic Reese's Recipes After Backlash

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The Hershey Company has announced it will bring back the original recipes for all Reese's products, including peanut butter cups, mini eggs, and Christmas trees, after facing intense criticism from consumers and the Reese family over cost-cutting ingredient changes. The move comes after Reese's grandson Brad Reese accused the company of using inferior substitutes like vegetable oil-based compounds instead of real milk chocolate and peanut butter-flavored crème instead of actual peanut butter.

Why it matters

The backlash over Reese's recipe changes highlights the risks companies face when they try to cut costs by altering beloved consumer products. Hershey's decision to revert to the classic formulas shows how powerful consumer sentiment can be, especially for iconic brands with loyal followings.

The details

Earlier this year, Brad Reese, the grandson of the Reese's creator, slammed Hershey on social media for using lower-quality ingredients in Reese's products. His accusations sparked an online firestorm, with consumers accusing the company of 'ruining' the candy to maximize profits. Hershey initially pushed back, saying the original peanut butter cups remained the same, but acknowledged making 'recipe adjustments' to other Reese's items. That admission only further angered fans, who felt the company had betrayed the brand's heritage.

• In February 2026, Brad Reese posted a series of viral social media posts accusing Hershey of cutting corners with Reese's ingredients.
• Starting in 2027, Hershey will switch back to the classic recipes for all Reese's products.

What’s next

Hershey plans to increase its research and development funding by 25% next year to improve recipes across its candy portfolio, including an enhanced KitKat and a shift to natural colors.