Reese’s is currently facing criticism online after the founder’s grandson alleged that the company altered the ingredients of some of its products.
In a post on LinkedIn, Brad Reese, the grandson of HB Reese, pointed out that several Reese’s items lack milk chocolate. His remarks appear to target specific seasonal and specialty products rather than the classic peanut butter cups.
He expressed concern, saying, “My grandfather built Reese’s on the simple and enduring architecture of milk chocolate and peanut butter.” Brad lamented that the brand’s identity seems to be shifting due to changes in formulation, replacing milk chocolate with a composite coating and peanut butter with a peanut butter-like cream in various products.
After sampling some Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Mini Hearts, he remarked, “I couldn’t eat it. It wasn’t edible,” noting the absence of milk chocolate and peanut butter, stating it was mainly vegetable oil.
Commenting on his connection to the brand, he said, “You can’t keep saying you’re Reese’s grandson if the product is completely bad.” His post gained considerable traction, receiving nearly 26,000 likes and over 820,000 views, with minimal positive feedback.
One user reflected on their experience from Halloween, recalling that they were criticized at work for mentioning that the products weren’t the same anymore. They admitted, “They said I was crazy. They were right.”
Another user echoed a nostalgic sentiment about when Reese’s used to taste better, stating it feels like a long time since they enjoyed a satisfying bite. Another commenter described how it used to melt in their mouth, adding a note of disappointment about the current experience.
One individual mentioned that they thought they might just be getting older, while another lamented about their recent experience, saying the candy tasted awful and waxy and they couldn’t finish it.
A spokesperson for Hershey responded by asserting that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are still made using the same methods as in the past. They explained that as the brand expands its product line, adjustments in recipes are necessary to align with new shapes and sizes, yet promised to retain the unique essence that fans cherish.
The representative emphasized that recipes are regularly influenced by consumer preferences and ongoing quality commitments, assuring that the ingredient information is reliably updated on packaging to reflect any changes.
Fox News Digital attempted to reach out to Brad Reese for further comments, though there was no response by publication time.
