Trending Now - Hershey Reverts to Original Recipe for Reese's Following Backlash

WHO:

PhillyVoice - Stacy Taffet, Hershey's chief growth and marketing officer, stated that the company will revert to its original recipes to ensure consistency across all Hershey's and Reese's offerings.

AP News - Hershey, a Pennsylvania-based company, and Brad Reese, the grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

CBS News - Brad Reese is the grandson of H.B. Reese, who invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928.

WHAT:

NBC News - Hershey will shift products like mini Easter eggs back to their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes starting in 2027.

NBC News - Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner stated, “That consistency is important across the brand.”

NBC News - The switch back to real chocolate will affect less than 3% of the Reese's products and a tiny portion of Hershey’s products.

NBC News - Hershey is "on track" to remove all artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027.

NBC News - Hershey will return to using "classic milk and dark chocolate recipes" in all its Reese’s and Hershey’s products by 2027.

NBC News - Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner stated, “We’re going to make some small investments to really align the portfolio to what the brand stands for.”

NBC News - The switch back to real chocolate will affect less than 3% of the Reese's products and a tiny portion of Hershey’s products.

NBC News - Hershey is "on track" to remove all artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027.

PhillyVoice - Hershey will abandon the use of substitute ingredients in Reese's-branded candies and other products starting in 2027.

PhillyVoice - Hershey plans to increase its research and development funding by 25% across its portfolio of candies and snacks in 2027.

AP News - Hershey announced it will revert to classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting in 2027.

Boston.com News - Hershey will also transition to natural colors and enhance Kit-Kat’s recipe to make it creamier next year.

AP News - Hershey plans to increase its research and development funding by 25% next year.

WHERE:

Boston.com News - Hershey is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

WHEN:

AP News - The announcement was made on Wednesday, March 31st, 2026.

AP News - The changes to Reese’s products will take effect in 2027.

WHY:

NBC News - Brad Reese stated, "If this is true, the people who deserve the credit are the loyal fans who were alarmed by what Hershey was doing."

NBC News - Reese claimed the recipes were changed to maximize profits, even at the cost of quality and brand loyalty, stating, "They're stooping for the pennies and passing up the dollars."

NBC News - Brad Reese stated, "If something like the Valentine’s Day Reese’s Mini Heart still doesn't taste like real milk chocolate next year, I'll know they're lying."

PhillyVoice - Brad Reese criticized Hershey for "diluting" time-honored flavors and claimed the recipe changes were made to maximize profits at the cost of quality and brand loyalty.

AP News - The decision to revert to classic recipes follows criticism from Brad Reese regarding the use of cheaper ingredients in Reese’s products.

AP News - Hershey acknowledged recipe changes were made to meet consumer demand for innovation and due to high cocoa prices.

HOW:

NBC News - Tanner joined Hershey in August 2025 and initiated a review of the product portfolio.

PhillyVoice - Hershey had previously switched from milk chocolate to cheaper compound coatings and replaced real peanut butter with "peanut butter crèmes" in some products.

AP News - Hershey will shift products like mini Easter eggs back to their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 17:16 UTC)

Hershey will revert to its classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes for products like mini Easter eggs starting in 2027, as announced by CEO Kirk Tanner, who emphasized the importance of consistency across the brand. This change will impact less than 3% of Reese's products and a small portion of Hershey's offerings, while the company is also on track to eliminate all artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027. Tanner, who joined Hershey in August 20th25, initiated a review of the product portfolio, which has been praised by fans who were concerned about previous recipe changes aimed at maximizing profits.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 05:30 UTC)

Hershey has announced plans to return to its classic milk and dark chocolate recipes for all Reese’s and Hershey’s products by 2027, with CEO Kirk Tanner emphasizing the importance of aligning the brand with its heritage. The change will impact less than three percent of Reese’s products and a small portion of Hershey’s offerings, while the company is also on track to eliminate all artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027. Tanner, who joined Hershey in August 20th25, initiated a review of the product portfolio, prompting this shift in strategy.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 01:22 UTC)

Hershey's chief growth and marketing officer, Stacy Taffet, announced that the company will revert to its original recipes for all Hershey's and Reese's products starting in 2027, abandoning the use of substitute ingredients. This decision comes after criticism from Brad Reese, who accused Hershey of diluting classic flavors in a bid to maximize profits at the expense of quality and brand loyalty. In addition to these recipe changes, Hershey plans to boost its research and development funding by 25% across its candy and snack portfolio in the same year.

(UPDATED April 1, 2026 19:21 UTC)

Hershey, the Pennsylvania-based company, announced on Wednesday that it will revert to classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting in 2027, following criticism from Brad Reese, the grandson of the candy's inventor. In addition to the changes for Reese’s, Hershey will enhance Kit-Kat’s recipe to make it creamier and transition to natural colors, while also increasing its research and development funding by 25% next year. The decision to return to classic recipes comes after consumer demand for quality and concerns over the use of cheaper ingredients in their products.