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News & Current Events Apr 2, 2026 at 1:32 AM

Hershey to resume using chocolate in most products; Reese’s grandson may taste sweet victory

Posted by AudibleNod

Hershey to resume using chocolate in most products; Reese’s grandson may taste sweet victory
NBC News
Hershey to resume using chocolate in most products; Reese’s grandson may taste sweet victory
The company will use “classic milk and dark chocolate recipes” in all Reese’s and Hershey’s products after Brad Reese went viral for calling out the candymaker.
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drainfrog_92 Apr 2, 2026 +11794
Imagine bragging that your big innovation is “putting chocolate back in the chocolate.” Next they can try a wild idea: publish a clear ingredient list comparing old vs new so people actually trust this.
11794
Low_Pickle_112 Apr 2, 2026 +3606
Get ready for chocolates with a big "Made with real chocolate!" label on them, as if they're doing you a favor and that isn't the bare minimum that should be expected anyway.
3606
MrPlaney Apr 2, 2026 +1526
Lay’s has just started doing that with “Made with 100% real potatoes” or some such shit. I was thinking, “what the hell were you making them with before”?
1526
clonked Apr 2, 2026 +1113
That particular tagline was added because a significant amount of people were in fact unaware potato chips are made from potatoes [https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/lays-updates-its-branding-after-customers-didnt-realize-the-chips-used-real-potatoes-insiders-reveal/ar-AA1RJ9Xc](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/lays-updates-its-branding-after-customers-didnt-realize-the-chips-used-real-potatoes-insiders-reveal/ar-AA1RJ9Xc)
1113
Blueeyesblazing7 Apr 2, 2026 +695
I wish the article mentioned what those 42% of people thought they *were* made of. Because I genuinely can't imagine not knowing Lay's Potato Chips, which taste like potatoes, are made from potatoes.
695
Prydefalcn Apr 2, 2026 +341
Made from chips, of course
341
Plainchant Apr 2, 2026 +49
The patented Lay process seals in the freshness.
49
GreenGreed_ Apr 2, 2026 +90
Went to college with a kid who didn't know milk came from cows. He was a richie rich kid who very likely did not get into this particular college on academic merit, so I'll give him that. But like...milk?? We asked him- why the f do you think cows are on the cartons? He said he thought they were just scenic pictures of the farms and shit and that the milk was 'made somewhere' and shipped to the stores, like everything else. Wild.
90
-FeistyRabbitSauce- Apr 2, 2026 +38
Wait until he hears where chocolate milk comes from!
38
Duck_Giblets Apr 2, 2026 +33
Chocolate cows of course
33
Enchillamas Apr 2, 2026 +13
You gotta shake them first though
13
Shasla Apr 2, 2026 +8
>that the milk was 'made somewhere' and shipped to the stores I mean, he's right, the "somewhere" is just "inside a cow" lol
8
Telvin3d Apr 2, 2026 +97
Pringles are only about 40% potatoes 
97
theoverfluff Apr 2, 2026 +101
My theory is that they're made from the factory floor sweepings of actual potato chips.
101
SandpaperTeddyBear Apr 2, 2026 +44
There’re basically flattened, dried, salted gnocchi when you think about it.
44
TheAngryGoat Apr 2, 2026 +39
What are they when I don't think about it though?
39
Tegrator Apr 2, 2026 +30
Potato Substance^tm
30
yukeake Apr 2, 2026 +18
When not thought about, their quantum state erodes and they cease to exist. Hence why you always come back to the can being empty without realizing you ate them all.
18
TheFatJesus Apr 2, 2026 +108
I think Pringles were originally going to make tennis balls. Except on the day the rubber was supposed to arrive they got a load of potatoes instead. But Pringles is a laid back company so they said, "F*** it, let's slice them up."
108
PorTroyal_Smith Apr 2, 2026 +23
Reminds me of a guy who once got lost in the woods...
23
Sir-Samuel_Vimes Apr 2, 2026 +31
F*** it. Build a house. I was lost but now I live here.
31
123ludwig Apr 2, 2026 +11
fun fact pringles are not sliced they are mashed potatoes pressed into a chip
11
despideme Apr 2, 2026 +21
I can hear this comment /r/unexpectedmitch
21
JLP33376 Apr 2, 2026 +26
"Is it a Chip?" Legal Battle (2000s): In a famous UK legal case, it was argued whether Pringles were technically "potato chips" or "potato crisps" due to their manufacturing process using potato flour/dough instead of sliced potatoes. This affected tax (VAT) regulations.
26
purpleWord_spudger Apr 2, 2026 +4
and the rest is sawdust and tears, hence the saltiness and texture
4
Jackalodeath Apr 2, 2026 +52
It was determined by a market research study, which are *notorious* for "clever" wording, inherent biases, and "catch-22" type questions and word-twisting that lead responses/respondents to certain answers that favor the sponsor(s). I help make these things for a living, I'd be willing to bet the relevant bit was worded something like: "How much do you agree or disagree with the following:" "[Product] is made with *real ingredients* sourced from *family-owned* farms." Given Frito-Lay is a conglomerate, internationally known/ubiquitous, and their goods are mass-produced at an astronomically industrial scale; a fat chunk of respondents likely disagreed in whole or in part. That's where the fun starts, since the respondents can't specify *which* part they disagree with, it allows the firm/sponsor to cheekily represent the data as something like "people that eat potato chips don't know they're made with real potatoes." Believe me, if most Americans weren't aware of how much of a fodder/filler/fuel crop corn is, they'd do the same and slap similar wording on Fritos/Doritos/Tostitos/etc. Iirc FL also gets their (contractually obligated) "family farmers" to grow a specific varietal of potatoes just for them, so that may have played a part in the wording.
52
OutlyingPlasma Apr 2, 2026 +43
Given how much food is mostly just processed corn, it's not unreasonable to think weird white extruded chip might be corn.
43
fountainpopjunkie Apr 2, 2026 +22
Tortilla chips are made from corn. Maybe they thought it was the same for all chips...
22
DokeyOakey Apr 2, 2026 +91
Those same people voted for Trump I bet.
91
il1k3c3r34l Apr 2, 2026 +31
They are confused, they’re used to eating paint chips.
31
frontlineninja Apr 2, 2026 +51
considering that like... for example, pringles are a large majority wheat, corn and rice, and are only 42% potato, advertising that you're made primarily of potatoes is something valuable
51
Gnom3y Apr 2, 2026 +43
This has big "1/4 lb is more than 1/3 lb because 4 is bigger than 3" energy 
43
J5tewart Apr 2, 2026 +23
This was almost definitely a PR/Marketing campaign. After all, they paid for the study.
23
arrownyc Apr 2, 2026 +73
That's what this Hershey campaign is doing to me, they stopped using chocolate??? When? Why? What???? I knew the quality had gone to shit and I don't eat it anymore, but was cocoa literally not even part of the recipe anymore and they thought that was okay??? If they're willing to sell chocolate that's not chocolate in the first place, I'm not willing to trust that their products are ever what they claim to be..
73
SewerRanger Apr 2, 2026 +15
> was cocoa literally not even part of the recipe anymore and they thought that was okay??? It sounds like they switched from milk chocolate to using a compound chocolate. Compound chocolates use palm/vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter as the main fat component. It's more stable at room temperature without having to temper, it's significantly cheaper, and it doesn't taste as good (which is impressive since Hershey is already a shitty tasting chocolate)
15
b0w3n Apr 2, 2026 +12
Yeah if you have thought to yourself it tastes more vomit-y than how it used to taste you probably have picked up on the change from their original formula to this new vegetable oil concoction. Leaves the worst film/taste in your mouth now compared to the originals. All this in a game to squeeze out a few extra cents a package and hope people keep buying as much as possible (also we jacked up the price to double because f*** you).
12
NihilisticHobbit Apr 2, 2026 +23
There's a chocolate bar here in Japan that's name translates as 'Chocolate?'. And it always weirded me out and I never bought it because, quite frankly, that's not a question I want to ask about my chocolate bar! Later found out it wasn't made with chocolate, but sunflower seeds processed in a way to taste like chocolate. I tried it, it has a bit of a sunflower seed taste, but also like chocolate. If it wasn't twice the price of a regular chocolate bar I'd actually buy it more regularly.
23
The_MAZZTer Apr 2, 2026 +8
IIRC they removed one of the ingredients of chocolate, so they couldn't legally say it contained chocolate any more.
8
PringlesDuckFace Apr 2, 2026 +34
Lay's is one of the best snack foods in terms of simple ingredients, at least the original flavor. They're potatoes, oil, salt. Compared to something like Pringles or Doritos they're practically food.
34
Belgand Apr 2, 2026 +33
I appreciate that about Fritos as well. Three ingredients: corn, corn oil, salt. There's something kind of endearing about frying mashed up corn in its own oil.
33
renegrape Apr 2, 2026 +26
I recall hearing it was that, in polls, a startling amount of people didnt know [potato] chips were made from potatos.
26
NTT66 Apr 2, 2026 +80
After the Ohio lawsuit where "boneless" chicken may contain bones, i've given up on words meaning anything when it comes to food, or more accurately food economics/commerce.
80
elfescosteven Apr 2, 2026 +30
Ohio clearly doesn’t give a shit about their citizens. Ohio has dozens of laws citizens have voted for that their Republican legislators will not pass!
30
korben2600 Apr 2, 2026 +51
Ohio Republicans, in a bid to slash spending on road salt for deicing, have opted for [fracking fluid waste brine](https://web.archive.org/web/20260304051741/https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/02/16/ohios-use-radioactive-brine-waste-treat-icy-roads-questioned/6765040002/) instead. Fun fact: it's radioactive and contains Radium-226 and -228. And they spray it all over their roads. Some test sites were 2,000,000x over the legal limits. Imagine what their drinking water must be like.
51
elfescosteven Apr 2, 2026 +19
Sounds about right for Ohio Republican representatives. They don’t give a shit about people that live in Ohio.
19
TheGoatBet Apr 2, 2026 +72
Any product that uses a creative variation of the word “chocolate” means it’s not f****** chocolate. The most common one is “chocolatey”. Eggo does this… “chocolatey chip” waffles. Not real chocolate. FYI, any variation of white chocolate is also not technically chocolate. Welcome to the hellscape known as late stage capitalism. You can thank those lazy ass, unemployed shareholders too. Anything for profit!
72
WolverinesThyroid Apr 2, 2026 +42
in white chocolates defense it was never chocolate and can never be real chocolate.
42
Low_Pickle_112 Apr 2, 2026 +23
Something to watch out for regarding white chocolate, in order for something to be called white chocolate it should contain an amount of cocoa butter, which is the liquid component produced from cocoa beans in addition to the cocoa solids used in dark & milk chocolate. In the US, the FDA regulations say white chocolate must contain a minimum of 20% cocoa fat in order to legally be called white chocolate. But look at Hershey's most common "white chocolate" bar, their cookies and cream bar, and you'll notice that it doesn't actually call itself a chocolate bar, just a candy bar sold in the chocolate section with the same shape and mold as a chocolate bar. It just kinda hopes you don't know the regulations, or check the ingredients, because while it looks like white chocolate, it contains no cocoa butter, just cheaper oils mostly palm oil. I love white chocolate, but you've got to watch out when you buy it.
23
SeaToTheBass Apr 2, 2026 +16
I was at Walmart earlier, I wanted to buy a case of Premier Protein chocolate protein shakes but something about the new packaging threw me off. Same price as ever, but it was clear these were “chocolate flavoured” I just took a look at an old case I have in the recycling and they clearly state “naturally and artificially flavoured” and the third ingredient is cocoa powder. Glad I didn’t buy it and next time I’m going to take a look at the ingredients and compare. They’re the same price as ever, I think. The cases last me awhile, I only use them for an easy supplement.
16
TheGoatBet Apr 2, 2026 +15
It’s crazy man, that we as citizens have to go out of our way to ensure the food we eat/drink is made from “real” ingredients. What’s the point of a modern day government if they cannot protect the health of their income (their citizens)
15
FallenJoe Apr 2, 2026 +11
I bought a loaf of bread the other day, from a fairly nice brand. While idly standing in line for checkout I noticed the slogan on the emblem. It read: "Made with real ingredients". I went 0-100 on intense concern for what was in my bread.
11
KarmaticArmageddon Apr 2, 2026 +5
>What’s the point of a modern day government Obviously it's to facilitate massive grift and funnel money from the poor to the rich, duh /s
5
neatyouth44 Apr 2, 2026 +5
On their website, cocoa powder is the 4th ingredient listed. https://www.premierprotein.com/products/chocolate-protein-shake
5
jraymcmurray Apr 2, 2026 +183
Oh c'mon, they're "making some small investments" into the company they've soullessly bled dry. What more do you want from them?!
183
KenTitan Apr 2, 2026 +69
ok wait I haven't had a Hershey in years and because I'm old of all tastes a little too sweet.. how do they take out chocolate from chocolate? was it carob?
69
TargetApprehensive38 Apr 2, 2026 +138
There’s still some chocolate, but they pad the heck out of it with vegetable oil, resulting in “chocolate flavored coating”. They weren’t using it everything - Reese’s eggs for example while regular Reese’s cups were still chocolate.
138
Muggsy423 Apr 2, 2026 +145
Palm oil specifically. Palm oil has a waxy mouthfeel and its use is why little debbie snack cakes taste so disappointing now too.
145
degggendorf Apr 2, 2026 +36
Oh dang I remember those zebra cakes would make my whole mouth feel so weird
36
weakplay Apr 2, 2026 +36
That was the zebra you were tasting silly.
36
__Geg__ Apr 2, 2026 +8
I was wondering what happened.
8
Opus_723 Apr 2, 2026 +23
Basically they mix cocoa powder with palm oil instead of cocoa butter to make what's called "chocolate compound coating."
23
Pizza_Low Apr 2, 2026 +51
There is a worldwide shortage of chocolate. And it doesn't look like that problem will get fixed anytime soon. Two opposite problems one is increasing wild wide demand for chocolate, and other is a fungus that's killing [entire plantations.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moniliophthora_roreri) to the point where farmers just abandon those fields. And in Africa a virus and fungus combo is pretty much doing the same thing. Entire fields of pods rotted before they get anywhere near harvest time. Farms that still free of the fungus have to keep armed guards near harvest time, otherwise thieves come and harvest entire fields overnight. There might still be sufficient supply for high end chocolate but for mass market stuff, the supply is rapidly shrinking.
51
Oregon-Pilot Apr 2, 2026 +29
It’s upsetting to me that we aren’t f****** raking these people over the coals. Like this should be absolutely *humiliating* for them, but no one seems to really care. I f****** hate people.
29
JackDraak Apr 2, 2026 +3378
Too little, too late. You lost my trust with all the chocolate colored wax I bought this year and last.
3378
Sad-Excitement9295 Apr 2, 2026 +1897
Yeah, f*** that, now I know it wasn't chocolate. Thanks for telling me. Everything in America is fake these days. F*** these companies, they have no integrity.
1897
xHugo_Stiglitzx Apr 2, 2026 +619
The enshitification continues. I understand shrinkflation, but the part that really makes me lose my shit is when they shrinkflate something but also raise the price at the same time.
619
QueenMackeral Apr 2, 2026 +180
Brands start out good to attract an audience, then slowly enshitify to make money. That's why you can't trust big brands, and should buy small brands when they're trying to attract you and then ditch them when they start enshitifying.
180
BellesCotes Apr 2, 2026 +54
The only brand I trust is Kirkland. It's the main reason why I bother with a Costco membership.
54
Sceptically Apr 2, 2026 +72
Inflate the price, reduce the portions, *and* c**** out on the ingredients.
72
FastFingersDude Apr 2, 2026 +24
Happens when there’s zero oversight or enforcement…sigh.
24
Jellz Apr 2, 2026 +12
I used to buy at least five cans of Peace Tea a week. Then they switched from cane sugar to high fructose corn syrup at the same time as making the cans smaller... to price them at 0.99 like Arizona tea. CocaCola bought them out. I've never bought another one since. I've noticed that my local grocery store used to have trouble keeping them stocked but not anymore.
12
Red_Sea_Pedestrian Apr 2, 2026 +24
Don’t forget the third step: use cheaper and/or lower quality ingredients!
24
RedditorsGetChills Apr 2, 2026 +245
I grew up loving reese's peanut butter cups, which were my gateway drug to just casually eat other chocolate. I lived abroad for over a decade, and sweets with a lot of sugar wasn't really a thing, so I went cold turkey. Moved back and went for old favorites, and they all tasted so different, I thought it was me and maybe leftover COVID symptoms I didn't know about. I just got back from 3 months in western Europe, and the chocolate, and everything else, being natural and real, was a shock to my senses. Not one day did I spend sick from food I ate, besides when I overate, unlike here where mystery ingredients leave behind mystery ailments.
245
aetrix Apr 2, 2026 +289
"I thought it was long covid but it was just capitalism"
289
JoeSavinaBotero Apr 2, 2026 +104
Western Europe has capitalism, but they also have functioning democracies that actually elect *representative* parties, so the corporations get put in their place.
104
TheAngryGoat Apr 2, 2026 +7
Yes, there's a huge difference between capitalism and unregulated capitalism.
7
PNWRulesCancerSucks Apr 2, 2026 +21
We have two parties: One that contains a few AHs, but mostly members who try One that works basically only for the billionaires. The latter has a structural overrepresentation at the federal level. Anyone who tries to claim they're the same is lying to you: https://i.imgur.com/yIFj2xl.jpg
21
AdjNounNumbers Apr 2, 2026 +15
I hope some future historical text contains this as the subheading for the chapter on the 2020s
15
Pinklady777 Apr 2, 2026 +9
Trader Joe's has a pretty good PB cup
9
mournthewolf Apr 2, 2026 +29
Just don’t eat the shitty stuff in the US. There are tons of good cholcolate and food brands and places to get it. People just give in and buy the bad stuff. It’s not like the good stuff isn’t also here. There’s just options. Don’t choose the bad option.
29
RustyAndEddies Apr 2, 2026 +14
Yeah, I’d rather get a nice bar of HU on sale for $4 than spend $2 on a mass-produced bar that has chocolate like La Croix has fruit
14
neatyouth44 Apr 2, 2026 +10
“Candy bar” at gas stations in the south is currently around $3.50. My jaw dropped.
10
quell3245 Apr 2, 2026 +56
Why is it that every one of these assholes feels the need to constantly destroy a brand/company that took years to build? Reeses was founded in 1928, 102 years ago… and one CEO decides hey let’s switch to c**** inferior product and save a few dollars, who cares what happens after I take my golden parachute and run. We need to create laws to protect product tampering and consumer protection from this kind of thing. It’s really just a long form of bait and switch tactic which are supposedly illegal.
56
TheAngryGoat Apr 2, 2026 +26
Because the people in charge have zero reasons to maintain quality. They get huge piles of gold dropped into their bank accounts because price go up and cost go down this quarter. Plus it's easier and cheaper to bribe the government into allowing you to lie about your shittiness than it is to maintain quality.
26
Digifiend84 Apr 2, 2026 +12
That's 98 years ago. 102 years ago would be 1924.
12
AromaticIntrovert Apr 2, 2026 +119
An article I read said the change back wasn't happening until 2027! Everyone will have found a replacement by then
119
JackDraak Apr 2, 2026 +24
Or broken the addiction / habit.
24
NoConfusion9490 Apr 2, 2026 +25
Is there somehow we can just let these fuckers go out of business as a message. Why is it so hard to just keep making a beloved candy and collecting money forever?
25
nutmac Apr 2, 2026 +31
Trader Joe’s versions taste way better. I especially like the dark chocolate version.
31
shicken684 Apr 2, 2026 +7
The Aldi's ones are great as well. All of their chocolate is incredible.
7
capricioustrilium Apr 2, 2026 +1086
April Fool’s! Get f-ed, consumers!
1086
JRange Apr 2, 2026 +249
I didnt even think of this, thats actually hilarious. What a stupid day to post this headline
249
quaranTV Apr 2, 2026 +27
My first thought was too good to be true especially on April Fools.
27
JinkoTheMan Apr 2, 2026 +461
F*** you mean “resume using chocolate”?🤨
461
NedRyerson_Insurance Apr 2, 2026 +137
With the current situation in Iran, the price for the plastic they've been using is going up.
137
AudibleNod Apr 2, 2026 +2918
>“We’re going to make some small investments to really align the portfolio to what the brand stands for,” Tanner said. “That consistency is important across the brand.” Tanner is giving McDonald's CEO "product" vibes. It's candy, you bitter man. Make candy, not brands. The grandson shouldn't be stirring the pot to force you guys to keep the original recipe. You failed once you started calling it a portfolio. I just hope this gets wrapped up properly.
2918
JRange Apr 2, 2026 +1050
The people can taste it too. I used to love reeses and in recent years it became pretty obvious they changed something, the "peanut butter" started tasting weird as hell. Super low quality product. All Hershey chocolate has gone down the drain in the name of greed.
1050
OrganicKeynesianBean Apr 2, 2026 +318
I bought Easter egg Reese’s on sale after not having them in a long time. They tasted horrible, and were like 200 calories each, so I just threw them away. Not worth it and won’t buy again.
318
mattbrvc Apr 2, 2026 +260
For real, If I’m putting garbage in my body it should at least taste good
260
Bakedfresh420 Apr 2, 2026 +104
Our modern Social Contract
104
UndoxxableOhioan Apr 2, 2026 +14
And they were expensive as hell, like $1.50 each in a 6 pack. They spent nothing of the savings on keeping the price low. Assholes just padded profits.
14
versusgorilla Apr 2, 2026 +243
Yeah, I've never been one of these people who hated American chocolate compared to foreign chocolate, I proudly said a Reeses was one of my favorite candies. For years. But after COVID I'd convinced myself that I lost the taste for chocolate, Reeses taste like shit now, I couldn't explain it. F*** these companies for ruining their own products so badly that I thought I'd lost a taste for goddamn chocolate. I had some Girl Scout cookies recently that were awesome. First few ingredients in the peanut butter chocolate ones was peanut butter and flour. Just cookie ingredients.
243
HauntedPickleJar Apr 2, 2026 +113
I thought I had just gotten older and that’s why I didn’t like peanut butter cups anymore. Nope, I found a local chocolate shop that makes them in house with just peanut butter and chocolate. They’re incredible!
113
Bedtime_4_Bonzo Apr 2, 2026 +70
Trader Joe’s peanut butter cups are the only ones I eat now. I didn’t know about Hershey not using chocolate, but once you taste a quality version, you realize how bad Reese’s is.
70
tachycardicIVu Apr 2, 2026 +32
The dark chocolate cups without wrappers in a plastic container? Those things are DANGEROUS. I will go through a half a box in one sitting with no regrets. They taste like Reese’s used to but better and less foil to get to them!
32
stomassetti Apr 2, 2026 +17
Got to pump those numbers up. those are rookie numbers. I stopped buying those because I would eat the whole container in one sitting. I also had to stop buying their everything flavored wheat thin crackers. Same with the almond-cashew-chocolate trail mix, EVOO/salt popcorn bags & mini naan crackers. Now I just grab some broccoli & couliflower & GTFO as fast as I can
17
gwazmalurk Apr 2, 2026 +124
Yeah. Now it’s just sweet ‘n greasy
124
TrainingSword Apr 2, 2026 +68
That’s the palm oil
68
Astronomy_Setec Apr 2, 2026 +55
I noticed recently that nearly every peanut butter has palm oil now. Sweaty and greasy describes it perfectly.
55
Shin-kak-nish Apr 2, 2026 +27
Also terrible for the environment!
27
LonnieJaw748 Apr 2, 2026 +45
IIRC, it’s one of the top reasons for orangutan habitat destruction. Pretty sure that tragically sad video of an orangutan attempting to fight off a huge bulldozer from her forest is due to clearing it for palm oil orchards.
45
hammerofspammer Apr 2, 2026 +13
>sweet ‘n greasy Sounds like the next wonderful treat from Nestle!
13
Sunnyjim333 Apr 2, 2026 +29
Cadbury Eggs holding their head in shame too.
29
Sceptically Apr 2, 2026 +29
Mondelez International (formerly part of Kraft Foods), ruined Cadbury's. They're yet another example of private equity enshittifying good products.
29
ShepardRTC Apr 2, 2026 +42
You’re going to see this more and more. The price of cocoa is increasing due to serious, long-term growing issues, and so, companies are looking to keep costs down by replacing the chocolate or lowering the percentage.
42
u_395djk Apr 2, 2026 +11
When it gets to the point that I won't even buy my annual crispy chocolate bunny at Easter, you know it's gone to c***. Chocolate doesn't taste like chocolate anymore.
11
Sea-Present-8543 Apr 2, 2026 +5
Nah we passed the peak, cocoa prices are down but we have yet to see that trickle down. We’re about to see some price adjustments for the finished products. This is why Hershey can afford this.
5
OffTheMerchandise Apr 2, 2026 +20
There was a commercial for Reese's peanut butter cups where they zoomed in far too close and it looked so unappetizing
20
Theemperorsmith Apr 2, 2026 +18
Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups beat Reese’s all to hell, and I don’t work for trader Joe’s
18
beerncheese69 Apr 2, 2026 +134
Hershey used to be the creme de la creme. Their almond bars were unreal. Tastes like cardboard now. You know im starting to think that getting older isnt just a "loss of innocence," Its that capitalism is a race to the bottom.
134
Kalabajooie Apr 2, 2026 +111
>creme de la creme That might be a bit too generous, but it was a good, budget, domestic chocolate. Especially Special Dark. Nowadays it's neither good nor budget.
111
TaylorSplifftie Apr 2, 2026 +18
Modified dairy product de la modified dairy product
18
culminacio Apr 2, 2026 +37
lol hershey's was always just a regular d******* brand and never ever exceptional. even lindt, which is the most basic european chocolate, was always way above hershey's.
37
thedugong Apr 2, 2026 +15
As a non-American, creme de la vomit.
15
DrBabs Apr 2, 2026 +119
Seriously, their product is chocolate and peanut butter. Those should be the ingredients.
119
Ekg887 Apr 2, 2026 +81
Your favorite peanut butter + powdered sugar = better peanut butter filling than any Reeses in memory. Next, melt chocolate chips to 113° F (Lucky Hot 13! There, now you remember it) for a good enough temper. Roll your peanut butter into 1/2 inch balls, then dip in chocolate and let cool on wax paper. Congrats, you've just made 'buckeyes' - the original Reeses.
81
burnt-soap Apr 2, 2026 +25
Heck yes. Far superior to Reeses. Plus they’re really delicious straight from the freezer
25
saera-targaryen Apr 2, 2026 +6
A life hack for tempering is that if you melt chocolate, you can mix back in some unmelted chocolate to "seed" your temper. just keep doing that until the unmelted ones are barely able to melt back into the melted ones and you're golden
6
thefinalcutdown Apr 2, 2026 +37
“We’re going to spend a little bit more to improve the quality of the chocolate we sell so that people will like it and choose us over the competition.” Like, is that so hard to say? Is it so hard to sound like you actually know what it is you sell and speak like a human being? You’re a chocolate company but based on this statement you could sell f****** erasers or ball bearings and there’d be no way to tell. I miss the days when someone was CEO of a company because they were experts in the thing they sold, not because they were trained in the generic art of stock price pumping…
37
Zelcron Apr 2, 2026 +144
MBAs have ruined this once great nation.
144
Pussy4LunchDick4Dins Apr 2, 2026 +68
They’re ruining the f****** planet. They’d ruin the sun if boosted quarterly profits.
68
Sufficient-Will3644 Apr 2, 2026 +11
Capitalism has insane assumptions at its foundation. Destructive assumptions.
11
lunaticfridgeprime Apr 2, 2026 +80
MBAs are a plague on society.
80
TigerUSA20 Apr 2, 2026 +13
Can’t wait until it’s “New and Improved” with a 50% price increase!!! Yay! 💵💰
13
GabeDef Apr 2, 2026 +320
I used to be a Reese’s fanatic, I would eat them whenever I could - but a few years ago, I remember having one and it tasted off - something was so off that I threw it out and never bought one again. I know I’m not alone - and unfortunately- no matter what they claim - I’ll never go back. 
320
Boz0r Apr 2, 2026 +29
I knew a dude who loved Reese's Pieces, and when they changed he was so disgusted that he had to phone his parents to come pick him up in a space ship.
29
BenTwan Apr 2, 2026 +98
Same. Was my favorite candy most of my life, but I haven't bought one in years thanks to the gritty, chalky filling and waxy, bitter coating. 
98
GabeDef Apr 2, 2026 +36
I deeply understand this. At first my wife and I thought it was our taste buds and interest in sweets going away in our 40s but too many people were saying the same thing - that it just tasted bad. It’s been years since I’ve had one. AND Reece’s Pieces filling had changed to some chemical, that made me vomit each time I tried them. Haven’t touch that c*** in years either.
36
FrothyEspresso Apr 2, 2026 +589
And it only took the family of the founder to call out a company’s bullshit. If it wasn’t for him they’d be doubling down on selling trash.
589
Pussy4LunchDick4Dins Apr 2, 2026 +246
It is not that and it will never be the reason. Their sales dropped. That the only reason they would do this
246
ope__sorry Apr 2, 2026 +66
It’s not surprising. I’ve bought hardly any Reese for a while because whatever they were putting in there had the most off putting chemical taste it was awful. It was like someone knocked off the knockoff of a knockoff of a knockoff of a Reese’s. It’s like someone tried to give me a bubly and convince me it’s carbonated kool aid.
66
peepea Apr 2, 2026 +5
Omg!! The eggs were my favorite thing about easter, as it is really the only candy I eat. After a couple of years of disappointment, I just stopped getting them. I noticed this year that they are on sale at every store I go to, while the other Easter sweets is not
5
-Ok-Perception- Apr 2, 2026 +5
Well, they'll still double down on selling trash, they just needed a positive PR moment where they make a firm commitment to putting chocolate back in chocolate.
5
ReactionJifs Apr 2, 2026 +186
classic late-stage capitalism plan of charging the highest possible price for a product that's the lowest possible quality "where our customer go?" 😳
186
Overly_Underwhelmed Apr 2, 2026 +200
if they are actually claiming that the regular peanut butter cups are still made with the good stuff, then we have very differing ideas as to what is good.
200
sarcago Apr 2, 2026 +66
I have a family member who works for Hershey and they told me the same thing, that the regular ones haven’t changed. I still don’t believe them. Because the last Reese’s I got in my Costco Halloween bag two years ago were pretty bad. I straight up don’t buy Hershey’s these days.
66
KimJongFunk Apr 2, 2026 +48
Reese’s cups did not use to crumble apart into dust.
48
KibbledJiveElkZoo Apr 2, 2026 +24
This is a great point. One reason they "do not seem the same" to me, is the texture and weird physical way they break and, yeah, "crumble"; that I don't seem to remember them doing "in the old days". Good call.
24
KimJongFunk Apr 2, 2026 +11
I noticed this because I usually eat the white chocolate Reese’s sold in 5 packs at Dollar Tree (and don’t get me started on how small those cups have shrunken in diameter). The white chocolate Reese’s never had cocoa in the first place, but the peanut butter center falls apart now.
11
halcykhan Apr 2, 2026 +70
There’s so much palm oil in Reese’s cups they don’t freeze solid anymore. They’re full of shit.
70
IndianaSucksAzz Apr 2, 2026 +19
Yeah that’s a crock of bullshit. I used to buy a pack every single grocery trip. I haven’t in a few years because of the shit quality. They’re liars.
19
MyBadYourFault- Apr 2, 2026 +45
It basically is. It’s the holiday stuff that has a changed formula. I could tell there was a difference years ago. If you buy any Reese’s that has a shape to it other than the cup, it’s not really peanut butter or chocolate. The cups are still decent.
45
Overly_Underwhelmed Apr 2, 2026 +54
I'm an old, so maybe I'm going back 15 or 20 years, but the regular cups are no where near what they used to be. were once a favorite, now they just make me sad.
54
ILoveLamp9 Apr 2, 2026 +6
Yeah I sense something was off/different when eating the Reese’s pumpkins from last year during Halloween. It definitely doesn’t have the right chocolate and PB profile from the original Reese’s.
6
LickSomeToad Apr 2, 2026 +291
Oh wow, maybe I’m naive, but this ingredients list for the Reese’ Mini Eggs linked in the article was kind of jarring “Sugar , Partially Defatted Peanuts , Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil ( Palm Kernel and Soybean Oil ) , Reduced Minerals Whey ( Milk ) , Dextrose , Contains 2% Or Less Of : Artificial Color ( Yellow 5 Lake , Blue 1 Lake , Red 40 Lake ) , Corn Syrup , Carnauba Wax , Salt , Cornstarch , Soy Lecithin , Modified Cornstarch , Resinous Glaze , Vanillin , Artificial Flavor , Gum Acacia , Xanthan Gum .” No chocolate at all! This list makes me never want to eat one of those!
291
TheMayorMikeJackson Apr 2, 2026 +130
yeah right you crave the Resinous Glaze
130
obeytheturtles Apr 2, 2026 +4
Oh, I didn't realize OP's mom was going to be here.
4
cedriceent Apr 2, 2026 +41
So their chocolate contains more food colouring than chocolate.
41
cargonet Apr 2, 2026 +35
That shouldn't be surprising though - Reese's Pieces have never had chocolate in them, and those are just egg-shaped Reese's Pieces. I have no idea why they're being highlighted in the article. I wonder if they meant to lookup the Reese Eggs, which are enrobed in chocolate and don't have a candy coating... https://www.hersheyland.com/products/reeses-milk-chocolate-peanut-butter-egg-1-2-oz.html
35
wyatt_cat Apr 2, 2026 +8
I'm actually not entirely sure what that ingredient list is from. Reese's Mini Eggs are these things... [https://shop.hersheys.com/our-brands/reeses/034000270644.html](https://shop.hersheys.com/our-brands/reeses/034000270644.html) Which do have chocolate on their ingredient list (after several oils) The egg shaped Reese's Pieces are marketed as Reese's Pieces Eggs, but their ingredient list doesn't match that either -- they use confectioner's glaze, not "resinous glaze"? [https://www.hersheyland.com/products/reeses-pieces-peanut-butter-eggs-10-8-oz-bag.html](https://www.hersheyland.com/products/reeses-pieces-peanut-butter-eggs-10-8-oz-bag.html)
8
FancyRobot Apr 2, 2026 +188
Shipped their jobs to China and weren't even using chocolate in their chocolate bars which saw a massive increase in price, the American way. Maximize profit and make everyone miserable
188
Walmartian_Beta Apr 2, 2026 +46
When I was a kid, a Hershey Bar was 40 cents. The other day, I saw a single regular-sized bar for $2.50. F*** THAT
46
FancyRobot Apr 2, 2026 +43
"regular size" is 1.5 ounces now when it was 2
43
ailish Apr 2, 2026 +30
Holy shit, they're going to put chocolate in their chocolate?
30
RoarOfTheWorlds Apr 2, 2026 +110
A lot of people not reading the article > In all, the company said the shift from chocolate compound coatings to the real thing will affect less than 3% of the Reese's products and a tiny portion of Hershey’s products.
110
Da_Spooky_Ghost Apr 2, 2026 +30
Yes specifically called out the Reeses hearts "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," he said. The mini heart packages I see online say they contain milk chocolate. There's other hearts that do not list milk chocolate on the label. [https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/hersheyprodcloud/0\_34000\_47481\_3\_701\_47481\_002\_Item\_Front?fmt=webp-alpha&hei=908&qlt=75](https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/hersheyprodcloud/0_34000_47481_3_701_47481_002_Item_Front?fmt=webp-alpha&hei=908&qlt=75)
30
FourEyesAndThighs Apr 2, 2026 +23
Yeah, if you believe they didn't modify the original recipe at some point, you clearly don't remember eating one 30 years ago. They crumble apart, no longer freeze, and the chocolate doesn't bloom anymore. Lack of chocolate bloom is the biggest sign that they changed the recipe.
23
heycheena Apr 2, 2026 +21
Trying to frame this like they're doing consumers a favor and not like they realized everyone wasn't buying their garbage.
21
PlayD0ugh_Plato Apr 2, 2026 +17
That's because cocoa has dropped in price by 65%+ in less than a year. I buy cocoa for one of their competitors
17
cyberdude419 Apr 2, 2026 +17
Trader Joe’s mini PB Cups are amazing and taste similar to old school Reese’s
17
thtamthrfckr Apr 2, 2026 +65
I go Hershey plants all the time and they give me stuff for free almost every time and every time I give that shit away because it’s like chocolate candle wax, hardly chocolate at all.
65
Rasguld Apr 2, 2026 +44
I'm assuming you go for work purposes but I'd like to imagine you're going for fun once a month and being disappointed everytime.
44
VegasRoomEscape Apr 2, 2026 +67
They ruined Reeses. I bit into one last Halloween and it was tasteless trash. Never forgive. Never forget.
67
unique_user43 Apr 2, 2026 +12
“hershey to resume using chocolate in” chocolate products. man, even candy has been enshitified.
12
Upper_Band_6444 Apr 2, 2026 +61
Finally, Hershey’s bars might taste like actual chocolate again grandpa Reese can stop rolling in his cocoa-covered grave.
61
aradraugfea Apr 2, 2026 +46
Maybe Cadbury eggs will stop sucking (they're made with Hershey's chocolate in America, and the difference in taste is STARK)
46
grrgrrtigergrr Apr 2, 2026 +17
The yolk is what really sucks now. It’s no longer runny, it’s fluffy.
17
Overly_Underwhelmed Apr 2, 2026 +7
"in an effort to balance costs across the entire portfolio, any dark brown in Reese's branded items will now contain up to five percent real "chocolate" while everything else will endure a five percent, adjustment."
7
SerenaLunalight Apr 2, 2026 +42
Can they also remove the butyric acid that makes their products taste like shit?
42
Davoness Apr 2, 2026 +17
I tried one when I was in America on vacation and was shocked to learn that millions of people willingly consume a chocolate bar that tastes like solidified vomit.
17
momob3rry Apr 2, 2026 +10
I’m very confused reading this title and didn’t know chocolate was not being used lol.
10
008Zulu Apr 2, 2026 +15
A lot of chocolate companies switched to palm oil, with chocolate flavouring, in an effort to maximize profits.
15
CoolHandMike Apr 2, 2026 +19
I knew Hershey's was shit as soon as I tasted my first chocolate while stationed overseas in the early oughts. The fact that they appear to have gotten even worse since then... I mean, if they're "going back" to their "original recipes" well good for them, but it's stil going to be sub-par if you ask me. Haven't had any in a very long while though, so take that as you will.
19
paulsoleo Apr 2, 2026 +17
I stopped buying them 100%. They’re absolute shit these days.
17
Camerotus Apr 2, 2026 +8
I'm an out of the loop European. What?
8
Kittylover11 Apr 2, 2026 +6
Just here to praise the Trader Joe’s mini peanut butter cups. 100x better than Reese’s. I’ll never buy a hersheys product again, not that it was any good before it was fake chocolate.
6
BranSh81 Apr 2, 2026 +7
Honestly eat more than two and I feel like I need to throw up. I’ve switched to Snickers…. May have to try Reese again next year. That waxy fake chocolate is disgusting, but the peanut butter cream stuff they use instead of their normal Peanut Butter and Graham Crackers reminds me of knock off candy. Glad they’re wising up. Doing more with less year after year doesn’t need to apply to Candy Bars.
7
d3k3d Apr 2, 2026 +7
We're a lot closer to full-blown cyberpunk foods than most US citizens realize.
7
tigertimtigertim Apr 2, 2026 +7
*Starting next year, Tanner said candies **inspired by** the originals — like the "mini Reese's cups and shapes," as well as the Reese's Fast Break candy bar — will also be made with real milk chocolate instead of a chocolate compound coating.* … The pr spin here sure is something
7
PrometheusMMIV Apr 2, 2026 +5
Wait what? What were they using before?
5
edspeds Apr 2, 2026 +7
Surprisingly for me Aldi chocolates have become my new favorites. Haven’t bought a Hershey product in a couple of years.
7
Remote_Independent50 Apr 2, 2026 +5
Now fix the Butterfinger. Bart Simpson would not approve of this bullshit!
5
Frost_blade Apr 2, 2026 +7
Yeah. I don’t remember when, but they changed the Reese’s recipe and I haven’t eaten them since. Was my favorite candy for years too. 
7
DissKhorse Apr 2, 2026 +10
Can the grandson of whoever invented the Cadbury Egg shame Hersey who makes them in the US. I miss the old Cadbury eggs, they were larger, had really good chocolate and a creamy inside. Now they are tiny, have c*** chocolate and a grainy paste inside.
10
epidemica Apr 2, 2026 +6
They lost me as a customer when I opened the first bag of Reese's cups in a long while (that was almost TEN dollars) and they tasted like wax and were extremely greasy on the outside and dry on the inside, and being seasonal so I knew they weren't old. No, thanks, less inches on my waist and more money in pocket.
6
snowbanks1993 Apr 2, 2026 +5
I am to european for this but what was in their chocolate currently if not chocolate?
5
User-D-Name Apr 2, 2026 +4
Hershey's has been mediocre at best for decades
4
porcupinedeath Apr 2, 2026 +5
What the f*** has it been if not chocolate then?
5
tmntnyc Apr 2, 2026 +5
Capitalists would sell us air if they could.
5
mycarisnotblue Apr 2, 2026 +6
"In all, the company said the shift from chocolate compound coatings to the real thing will affect less than 3% of the Reese's products and a tiny portion of Hershey’s products."
6
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