PediatricDigest: Latest from Food Politics: Sweet thought for the weekend: Reese's v. Hershey's

By Marion Nestle

March 06 2026

Sweet thought for the weekend: Reese’s v. Hershey’s

Really? When I go to the Hershey’s site, I get this:

Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Lecithin, PGPR); Peanuts; Sugar; Dextrose; Salt; TBHQ & Citric Acid (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS)

Four kinds of sugar and ultra-processed; it’s hard to believe it could get worse.

Even so, the Reese family doesn’t like what is happening to its iconic brand.

Hershey blasted by Reese’s family over core ingredient changes: Reese family sends open letter to Hershey, challenging whether the confectionery giant is protecting the Reese’s legacy… Read more

Hershey facing criticism from Reese family

Reese family member accuses Hershey of lowering core product quality

Brad Reese claims formulations replaced milk chocolate and real peanut butter

Open letter argues changes threaten brand heritage and consumer trust foundations

Criticism pressures Hershey to address transparency concerns amid evolving brand strategy

Debate highlights tension between cost efficiencies and protecting long-held product identity

Comment

As described in yesterday’s post, the chocolate industry is in trouble because of diminishing supplies, increased costs, and climate change. Hershey’s must think its customers can’t tell the difference between simple real food ingredients and ultra-processed concoctions.

Real foods cost more. That’s a problem for food companies.

The post Sweet thought for the weekend: Reese’s v. Hershey’s appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle

Keeping up with chocolate; the crisis and what to do about it

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