A grandson of the man who created Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is publicly criticizing The Hershey Company, accusing the confectionery giant of lowering ingredient quality in one of America’s most popular treats.
Brad Reese, 70, the grandson of H. B. Reese, said the brand his grandfather built on a simple formula of milk chocolate and peanut butter is being altered through what he described as formulation decisions that rely on cheaper, ultra processed substitutes.
“My grandfather, H. B. Reese, built Reese’s on a simple, enduring architecture: Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter,” Reese wrote in a LinkedIn post. He argued that the product’s identity is being reshaped by replacing milk chocolate with compound coatings and peanut butter with peanut butter style creme in certain items across the product line.
In a follow up interview, Reese said he was embarrassed by what he sees as declining standards. “They’re lowering the quality of ingredients, charging the same price and probably giving you a smaller product size,” he told The New York Post.
The Hershey Company, headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, pushed back on the criticism. In a statement reported by ABC27 News, the company said its original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are still made with real peanut butter and milk chocolate, beginning with roasting fresh peanuts to create its signature filling.
Hershey acknowledged that it has made recipe adjustments across its broader product line to support new shapes, sizes, and limited edition offerings. The company maintained that it protects the essence of the brand, which it describes as the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.
According to ingredient listings on the company’s website, traditional Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups contain milk chocolate made with sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, skim milk, milk fat, lactose, lecithin, and PGPR, along with peanuts, sugar, dextrose, salt, and preservatives such as TBHQ and citric acid to maintain freshness.
Reese suggested that seasonal and spinoff versions of the candy are where quality has slipped the most. He told The Associated Press that he recently purchased a Valentine’s themed bag of Reese’s Mini Hearts but threw it away, calling the product inedible and saying the experience was devastating given his lifelong connection to the brand.
The post Reese’s Heir Blasts Ingredient Changes in Iconic Candy, Says Quality Has Slipped appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
