Hershey Co. confirmed Wednesday that all Reese’s products will return to their traditional milk and dark chocolate recipes in 2027, following criticism from the candy creator’s family and consumers. The company also plans to remove artificial colors from its sweets portfolio and rework KitKat bars for a creamier texture. Hershey said it will increase research and development spending by 25% next year.

The backlash began after Brad Reese, grandson of H.B. Reese, issued an open letter on Valentine’s Day criticizing a bag of Reese’s Unwrapped Mini Hearts. “I went and bought a bag, and I took a couple bites, and I had to throw the bag in the garbage,” Reese told Fox Business. “I couldn’t eat it. It was not edible… there was no milk chocolate, there was no peanut butter — it was all vegetable oils and fats.”

Hershey executives said less than 3% of Reese’s products will be affected, along with a small portion of the broader Hershey line. CEO Kirk Tanner told Bloomberg that recipe adjustments were already underway after he assumed the role in summer 2025, and include certain mini Reese’s cups, seasonal foil-wrapped shapes, and the Reese’s Fast Break bar. “We’re going to make some small investments to really align the portfolio to what the brand stands for. That consistency is important across the brand,” Tanner said.

Hershey’s CFO, Steven Voskuil, previously stated that formula changes had produced “no consumer impact whatsoever,” though Brad Reese said customers frequently noted a decline in quality. The announcement follows a dip in Hershey stock after the story circulated online in February, though shares remain up roughly 14% due to price increases and other company measures.