Why the grandson of the Reese’s inventor is fighting Hershey’s over candy ingredients

Brad Reese, grandson of the peanut butter cup creator, is leading a campaign against The Hershey Company. He claims the brand is using ingredients that disqualify their products from being legally labeled as milk chocolate or peanut butter, sparking a debate over corporate cost-cutting.

The Hershey Company has faced scrutiny for incorporating ingredients into certain Reese’s products that fail to meet legal standards for milk chocolate or peanut butter. This shift has prompted Brad Reese, a third-generation scion of the original inventor H.B. Reese, to launch a public campaign aimed at pressuring the company to revert to its traditional recipe.

The situation highlights broader industry trends regarding ingredient quality and potential skimpflation. Planet Money explores the motivations behind these manufacturing changes and delivers exclusive information to Brad Reese regarding the state of his grandfather's legacy.

Source: Reese’s heir vs. chocolate skimpflation | Planet Money