The grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups last week called out Hershey for cheapening some newer Reese’s products to no longer include real milk chocolate and real peanut butter. This is a dramatic a change from the decades-old promise of how the product is made (and a good example of skimpflation):
Writing a letter to the brand manager at Hershey’s for various Reese’s products, Brad Reese, asked:
“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?”
As an example, Reese’s miniature hearts that were marketed this Valentine’s Day, used to be made with real ingredients but now are made with cheaper composite chocolate and peanut butter creme.
*MOUSE PRINT:
It appears that real peanut butter was not used in last year’s version of the mini-hearts either.
On his Linked-in page, Mr. Reese gave another example of the traditional ingredients missing from revamped Reese’s products:
He explained:
Today, February 3, 2026, The Hershey Company launched REESE’S Mini Eggs Unwrapped. When a brand like REESE’S built on two ingredients; Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter, quietly swaps both, that’s not innovation. That’s a breach. And the proof is right on the REESE’S packs shown below.
Front of pack: “Chocolate Candy” and “Peanut Butter Creme.”
Back of pack: Vegetable oils where “Cocoa Butter” once stood. Hydrogenated oils where real “Peanut Butter” once led.
The original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have not been changed… yet.
