Food

Hershey to resume using real ingredients after "Chocolategate"

Tonya Costoff Medeiros

08 Apr 2026 — 2 min read

Hershey is returning to classic milk and dark chocolate to restore its original peanut butter recipe. ©Image Credit: Hersheyland

Hershey is assuring customers it will go back to using milk and dark chocolate in its recipes after going viral for the wrong reason. The chocolate maker was called out by Brad Reese (grandson of the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups) for messing with the famous recipe.

Reese Peanut Butter Cups are easily one of the most popular candy/chocolate treats in the country. So when the inventor's own grandson called out Hershey's for skimping on chocolate, it made headlines.

Reese demanded that Hershey's go back to the original recipe that customers know and love. The callout was quickly dubbed "Chocolategate" on social media.

Hershey's vows to go back to the classic recipe

The company has since responded that it will be using "classic milk and dark chocolate" to ensure the peanut butter cups stay true to their original recipe.

Starting next year, Hershey's CEO Kirk Tanner said candies inspired by the originals — like the "mini Reese's cups and shapes," and the Reese's Fast Break candy bar — will be made with real milk chocolate.

Hershey's had been using a chocolate compound coating instead.

Also getting makeovers next year are the classic Hershey's bars that will now be made of pure dark and milk chocolate, and the Kit Kat that will have a creamier texture and taste.

Don't just tell us, show us

Not everyone is buying the promise from Hershey's, though. Reese himself sounds a bit doubtful.

"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," said Reese.

Reese went on to say that he trusts his taste buds, and he'll know if the company isn't being honest about the recipe and ingredients used.

A return to classic ingredients is what the public demands

If you recently tried a chocolate candy or bar from Hershey's and felt it wasn't the classic taste you know and remember, you may be right. You may want to hold out until next year for the new recipes using real ingredients.

Source: NBC News

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Chocolategate takes over social media