Reese’s Recipe Controversy: Inventor’s Grandson Accuses Hershey of Cost-Cutting

The Hershey Company is facing criticism from Brad Reese, grandson of H.B. Reese, the creator of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Reese alleges that Hershey has been quietly altering the ingredients in several Reese’s products, substituting cheaper alternatives for the original milk chocolate and peanut butter.

Claims of Ingredient Changes

Brad Reese voiced his concerns in a LinkedIn post and an open letter to Hershey’s corporate brand manager, claiming that milk chocolate is being replaced with “compound coatings” and peanut butter with “peanut butter-style crème” in many Reese’s products. He argues that these changes erode the brand’s trust and quality, built upon the original recipe.

“How does The Hershey Company 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?” Reese wrote in his February 14th LinkedIn post.

Hershey’s Response

Hershey acknowledges making “product recipe adjustments” but maintains that the classic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups remain unchanged. In a statement to E! News, the company stated that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are “made the same way they always have been, starting with roasting fresh peanuts to make our unique, one-of-a-kind peanut butter that is then combined with milk chocolate.”

However, Hershey clarified that ingredient variations may occur in other products within the Reese’s line. The company explained that these adjustments allow for new shapes, sizes, and innovations while still preserving the core combination of chocolate and peanut butter. USA Today reported Hershey’s statement regarding these adjustments.

H.B. Reese’s Legacy

H.B. Reese, who previously worked at Hershey for two years, founded his own candy company in 1919 and invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928 in the basement of his home in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The original cups sold for between 1 and 5 cents, according to the Hershey Community Archives. His company was later sold to Hershey in 1963 by his six sons.

Brad Reese emphasized that his grandfather built the brand on “real ingredients and real integrity,” and he is seeking transparency from Hershey regarding the ingredients used in its products. He stated, “As the grandson of the man who created Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, I’m not asking for nostalgia. I’m asking for alignment. For truth in Reese’s brand stewardship. For a corporate narrative from The Hershey Company that reflects the Reese’s product consumers are actually receiving.”