Hershey’s admits ‘adjustments’ to Reese’s recipe as internet rages over product changes they say ruined the beloved treat

Hershey has admitted to making “product recipe adjustments” to Reese’s, a move they say helps create “new shapes, sizes and innovations,” but one that many long-time fans and even the grandson of the treat’s creator claim has ruined the beloved candy. This admission comes after a wave of online complaints about the changing taste and texture of Reese’s products, sparking a debate about what’s really going on with our favorite peanut butter cups.

Earlier this year, Brad Reese, who is the 70-year-old grandson of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups creator H.B. Reese, penned an open letter to the Hershey corporation. He accused the company of cutting corners and significantly damaging his grandfather’s original invention. He stated that a recently purchased bag of Reese’s Mini Hearts was “not edible,” and he actually threw them away.

His letter clearly struck a chord, because lots of internet users have been suspecting for a while that the candy just doesn’t taste the same. Now, a TikTok user, @american_citizen69, has really gotten people talking with his take on the new REESE’S Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Giant Egg, as reported by BroBible. His video, which has racked up over 506,000 views, shows him trying the giant egg, and his reaction is pretty telling.

This is a serious critique from a dedicated fan

He explains that he usually could “kill this whole thing easily,” but after just “two bites,” he had to stop. “It’s not good. Something tastes not right with this,” he said. He described the candy as “slimy,” “elastic,” and “almost rubbery,” which sounds absolutely awful for a Reese’s. He’s been a loyal fan for years, but he declared, “If they’re like this now, I’m out—’cause this sucks.” He even said he was going to throw it away, which he called “unheard of” for him.

It’s not actually the first time Reese’s has tinkered with its recipes. Over the years, the company has made several changes. Back in 2005, the ingredients for Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg included “Milk Chocolate, Peanuts, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Corn Syrup, Cornstarch, Glycerin & TBHQ.” By 2009, that list had grown and shifted to include things like “Nonfat milk” and “Whey,” while also more explicitly defining “Milk Chocolate.”

Today, the ingredient list is different again, with “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” removed. It’s worth noting that the giant egg shown by the TikToker actually has a different recipe than the smaller eggs, reportedly containing more chocolate. This could explain why it tasted so different from what people expect from a typical Reese’s.

However, a Hershey spokesperson told BroBible that the recipe for the 6-ounce Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg specifically “has not changed and is made with milk chocolate and peanut butter.” It’s confusing when the company admits to “adjustments” generally, but denies them for a specific product that’s drawing complaints.

The comment sections on these posts are full of similar complaints. One user wrote, “Peanut butter cups used to be the only candy I liked. Now it’s nasty.” Another commenter chimed in, saying, “I haven’t eaten reeses or Hershey brand stuff in like a year because it tastes like chemicals now. skimpflation has ruined so many things.” They even suggested trying “the aldi brand peanutbutter cups” as a better alternative.

People are coming up with their own theories about why the taste has changed. One commenter, who works in a bakery, noted, “our bags of chocolate were $64 when I started. They are now $240. The tariffs are ruining this country.” Another person pointed to global issues, stating, “It was announced months ago that the world’s Cocoa production is low due to climate change. but also the companies are greedy and won’t lower their prices for a lesser product.”