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Grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups inventor is in pieces over missing milk chocolate
| USA | general | ✓ Verified - nbcnews.com

Grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups inventor is in pieces over missing milk chocolate

#Reese's Peanut Butter Cups #Brad Reese #Hershey Company #Formula Changes #Milk Chocolate #Chocolate-flavored Coating #Product Authenticity #Cocoa Prices

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Brad Reese discovered Hershey replaced milk chocolate with chocolate-flavored coating in Reese's products
  • Reese posted a viral letter to Hershey executives defending his grandfather's original formula
  • Hershey defended their practices, noting classic cups still use original recipe while newer products may differ
  • Cocoa price fluctuations of 136% between 2022-2024 may be driving formula changes
  • Reese fears changes are damaging his grandfather's legacy and consumer trust in the iconic brand

📖 Full Retelling

Brad Reese, grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups inventor H.B. Reese, accused The Hershey Company of altering the iconic candy's formula by replacing milk chocolate with a chocolate-flavored coating in West Palm Beach, Florida, on February 21, 2026, after discovering the change in Valentine's Day Reese's Mini Hearts that he described as 'inedible.' The 70-year-old lifelong Reese's enthusiast noticed the absence of 'milk chocolate' labeling on the packaging and found a chocolate-flavored coating instead of the real chocolate in the ingredients list, prompting him to launch a public campaign against what he calls the 'cheapening' of his grandfather's legacy. Reese, who has promoted Reese's products on his personal website for 25 years and often wears Reese's-themed clothing, posted a viral letter to Hershey executives on LinkedIn, revamping his site with a 'Make Reese's Great Again' cap and emphasizing that his grandfather built the brand on the simple principle of 'Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter.' Hershey spokesperson Allison Mason defended the company's practices, confirming that while the classic Reese's Peanut Butter Cups maintain their original recipe, newer products and seasonal shapes may use different formulations to allow for innovation, and clarified that the Valentine's Mini Hearts legitimately cannot be labeled as milk chocolate under FDA regulations since they contain a chocolate-flavored coating rather than actual chocolate.

🏷️ Themes

Product Authenticity, Family Legacy, Corporate Responsibility

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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

The controversy highlights how changes to a classic recipe can erode consumer trust in a beloved brand. It also underscores the impact of ingredient cost pressures on product integrity. The debate could influence future reformulations across Hershey's product line.

Context & Background

  • H.B. Reese founded the original peanut butter cup in 1928 and sold the company to Hershey in 1963
  • Hershey has expanded the Reese's line with seasonal and new shapes, sometimes using chocolate‑flavored coatings
  • Cocoa prices surged by 136% between July 2022 and February 2024, prompting some manufacturers to seek alternatives

What Happens Next

Hershey is likely to clarify its recipe policy and may adjust labeling to reflect ingredient changes. Consumer feedback could prompt a review of product formulations to preserve brand heritage. Regulatory agencies may monitor labeling claims for compliance with FDA definitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Brad Reese?

He is the grandson of H.B. Reese, the inventor of the original peanut butter cup, and a longtime advocate for the brand.

What is the main issue with the Valentine’s Day Reese’s Mini Hearts?

They use a chocolate‑flavored coating instead of milk chocolate, which some consumers say changes the taste and appearance of the product.

Has Hershey responded to the criticism?

Yes, a spokesperson said the core recipe is unchanged but that adjustments are made for new shapes and sizes while protecting the essence of the brand.

Are there regulatory constraints on labeling?

The FDA regulates the term "milk chocolate", so products that do not meet the definition cannot use that wording on the front of the package.

Original Source
Grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups inventor is in pieces over missing milk chocolate Brad Reese has accused Hershey of undermining the iconic candy by tinkering with the milk chocolate and peanut butter formula. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups; signage outside Hershey Co. headquarters. Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google Feb. 21, 2026, 12:00 PM EST / Updated Feb. 21, 2026, 3:29 PM EST By Corky Siemaszko Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 For the grandson of the inventor of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, all it took was one bite of a Valentine’s Day Reese’s Mini Hearts to leave him, well, heartbroken. “It didn’t taste like milk chocolate,” Brad Reese told NBC News. “It tasted cheap.” Reese said he looked at the front of the package and saw the words “peanut butter,” but not the words “milk chocolate.” And when he flipped the bag over and read the list of ingredients he was, as he put it, “horrified.” Hershey’s, which makes the beloved butter cups and seasonal spin-offs like mini-hearts, had replaced the milk chocolate with a chocolate-flavored coating “that definitely was not chocolate,” according to Reese. Make Reese's Great Again “For most of my life I ate at least one Reese’s Butter Cup per day, and sometimes something seasonal like a Reese’s heart or a Reese’s Christmas tree,” Reese, 70, said. “But this was inedible. I threw it in the garbage.” Then Reese, who is so enthralled with his grandfather’s sweet creation that he often ventures outside clad in orange and brown Reese’s jerseys, and who for 25 years has used his personal website to promote peanut butter cups and his family history, took a closer look at the ingredients on other Hershey’s candies that descend from his grandfather’s inventions. “You know the Reese’s Mini Eggs they sell at Easter? No milk chocolate in that ,” Reese said. Same goes for Reese’s Pieces, which were introduced in 1978 but really took off after they were featured in the 1982 movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestial...
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