Hershey: Care in Every Bite. 

No. The classic recipes for Hershey’s and Reese’s are not changing. The classic Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar is still made with cocoa and fresh milk. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are still the same combination of chocolate and peanut butter that consumers have trusted for generations.

Beginning in 2027, that same standard will extend to a small portion of limited-edition, seasonal and other offerings that are not currently consistent with the classic recipes. The core, year-round Hershey’s and Reese’s products consumers know are not part of this change. Hershey continually reviews its recipes so every ingredient earns its place, while keeping the taste and experience consumers expect.

Ingredient lists can change for several reasons: to enhance recipes for changing consumer preferences, to support new forms and flavors, to reflect evolving regulations and industry practices or to adapt to sourcing and manufacturing needs. Hershey reviews recipes continually and makes careful, deliberate changes so products keep the taste, texture and quality consumers expect.

Yes. Consumer feedback helps guide product innovation, recipe enhancements, and quality improvements across Hershey brands. Through consumer research, taste testing, and direct feedback, we better understand changing preferences and use those insights to help create products consumers love, including launches like the REESE’S OREO® Cup. Trained sensory experts and consumers also evaluate products to help ensure they deliver the expected taste and experience.

Consumer feedback has already inspired innovations like the Reese’s x Oreo® collaboration and adding even more cheese to Pirate’s Booty in 2027. Treats using colors from natural sources will roll out across our sweets portfolio, including Jolly Rancher and Sour Strips. Starting in 2027, we’re creating a new creamy recipe for Kit Kat®.

Each enhancement starts with what consumers want. Our food science experts then develop the new recipe and run it through rounds of taste testing with trained professionals and everyday snack lovers, to make sure the new treat delivers on taste, texture and the experience consumers expect.

Changing a recipe takes many months and even years to do well — even when it’s a handful of products. This work has been underway since our July 2025 decision to remove FD&C certified colors from our U.S. portfolio. We want to get it right, and that means careful consumer taste testing, packaging updates, manufacturing planning, and ingredient sourcing along the way.

These changes reflect what we’ve heard and what we know matters to the people who enjoy our brands, whether that’s what’s in their favorite chocolate or how their go-to snack fits into their life. We’re always listening and paying close attention to how preferences and tastes evolve, continually reviewing and enhancing recipes and ingredients.

Yes, any recipe changes will deliver the great taste and quality that consumers love. We continually test our recipes with people who enjoy our brands and trained taste testers to make sure any changes deliver the same experience they expect. Before anything reaches shelves, they confirm it lives up to what they know and love.

Quality starts with carefully selected ingredients and attention at every step—from roasting raw peanuts for Reese’s to using fresh milk from nearby farms for the classic Hershey’s chocolate bar. We source ingredients from suppliers who meet our rigorous food safety guidelines and quality standards.

Hershey’s and Reese’s treats are made with ingredients selected to deliver the taste, texture, quality, and consistency consumers expect from each brand. Every ingredient serves a specific purpose, whether it contributes to flavor, product performance, freshness, or the overall eating experience.

Direct comparisons between our treats and those from other brands are best made using the ingredient lists for the specific products being evaluated. Consumers can find the most current ingredient, nutrition, allergen, and product information on the product package label or through SmartLabel®.

Hershey is intentional about each ingredient and the purpose it serves. Every ingredient must earn its place by contributing to flavor, texture, freshness or consistency. It must also meet applicable regulatory requirements and Hershey’s quality and food-safety controls, while supporting the taste and experience consumers expect.

Yes, all Hershey Company treats and snacks are safe to eat. Food safety is our top priority, always.