Hershey to Use Classic Chocolate in Select Reese's by 2027

Hershey, the Pennsylvania-based candy giant, announced Wednesday that it will revert to classic milk and dark chocolate recipes for all Reeses products beginning in 2027, addressing concerns raised by the grandson of the product's founder over the use of cheaper ingredients in some items.

The decision affects a limited range of Reeses offerings, including mini cups, seasonal shapes like Easter eggs, and the Fast Break bar, which currently feature compound coatings made with vegetable oils such as palm and shea oil instead of cocoa butter. These coatings contain less chocolate than the real milk or dark chocolate used in the flagship Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. Company officials described the shift as applying to less than 3 percent of Reeses products and a small fraction of Hershey's overall lineup. The core Peanut Butter Cups, long made with real chocolate and freshly roasted peanut butter, will remain unchanged.

The announcement follows public criticism from Brad Reese, grandson of H.B. Reese, who invented the Peanut Butter Cups in 1928. In a letter dated February 14 and posted on LinkedIn, Brad Reese questioned the company's practices, writing, "How does The Hershey Co....