‘The Big Money Show’ panel discusses Hershey’s criticism of Reese’s founder’s grandson over alleged recipe changes.
The Hershey Company plans to reformulate the chocolate used in a small portion of Reese’s and Hershey’s products following criticism from the founder of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup over ingredient changes.
The chocolate maker has said it will eliminate certain compounds and convert those products to traditional milk or dark chocolate by 2027. The change is expected to affect less than 3% of Reese’s holdings and a small portion of its broader portfolio, according to Bloomberg.
“[We’re] to bring a small portion of Hershey and Reese’s remaining products in line with their classic milk and dark chocolate recipes,” a spokesperson for The Hershey Company told FOX Business via email.
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A variety of Reese’s products are displayed on store shelves. (Arne Dedert/photo alliance via Getty Images)
Many of Hershey’s products, including premium chocolate bars and regular Reese’s Peanut Butter bars, already use traditional chocolate. The updates will apply to select items such as the Reese’s Fast Break bar, some Mini Reese’s and certain foil-wrapped products, Bloomberg reports.
Hershey’s CEO, Kirk Tanner, said the decision to adjust ingredients was made shortly after he became involved last summer.
The chocolate maker is also revising the Kit Kat recipe to create a creamy chocolate flavor and plans to eliminate artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027, according to the store.
The changes follow recent criticism from Brad Reese, grandson of HB Reese, who accused the company earlier this year of lowering the quality of ingredients in some products.
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Reese’s products appear in stores in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 24, 2023. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
In a February LinkedIn post, he alleged that Hershey had replaced traditional ingredients like milk chocolate and peanut butter with cheaper alternatives.
Reese on Wednesday dismissed the company’s latest announcement, calling it a “PR move” and “total bullshit.”
“I don’t look at this as a win,” Reese told FOX Business.
He also questioned the timeline, suggesting the company was delaying meaningful action.
“They hope this will be over, and it will be business as usual in 2027,” Brad Reese said. “If they were really serious, they would have done it sooner.”
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A variety of candy, including Hershey’s, Reese’s and KitKat products, are displayed on store shelves. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Hershey released a statement to FOX Business, noting that Reese has no official connection to the company or product.
The company also quoted a statement from other members of the Reese family distancing themselves from his speech.
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“Our family would like to make it clear that we are not involved in, and do not support, the recent claims made by Brad Reese about the Hershey Company. His statements and opinions are entirely personal and do not reflect the opinion or position of our family,” the family recently said in a statement.
“We continue to respect The Hershey Company, its leadership, and its long-standing role in our community. We believe that HB Reese can be very proud of the products produced under its name today and the integrity with which the brand continues to be handled.”
