Hershey is changing its recipes for Reese’s products after the grandson of the Reese’s founder raised concerns about the use of cheaper ingredients.
Brad Reese sent a letter to Hershey’s corporate brand manager regarding the replacement of milk chocolate and peanut butter, The Associated Press reported.
“How does The Hershey Co. continue to position Reese’s as its flagship brand, a symbol of trust, quality, and leadership, while quietly replacing the very ingredients (Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter) that built Reese’s trust in the first place?” he wrote in a letter posted on LinkedIn.
Hershey stated that the recipe change was made to meet the demand for innovation and address the increasing costs of cocoa.
Although Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups still contain real chocolate, mini Easter eggs had less chocolate than before. However, Hershey announced that starting next year, they will return to their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes.
Reese expressed to NBC News, “If this is true, the credit belongs to the loyal fans who were concerned about what Hershey was doing,” adding, “But I see a lot of red flags here. I believe Hershey is trying to change the PR narrative.”
Additional changes are also planned, such as using more natural colors and changing the creamer in Kit-Kats, the AP reported.
“Hershey is dedicated to creating products that consumers love, which means continuously reviewing our recipes to meet changing tastes and preferences,” the company stated.
CEO Kirk Tanner informed Bloomberg that the recipe change was already in progress before Reese’s letter gained widespread attention.
