See, back in 2023, Reese’s actually went on to introduce their new Halloween-themed candies. And yes, it is the same company as Hershey’s. Everything was going as expected, but there were a few customers who bought these candies and weren’t too excited to see the final product. Why exactly? Well, they claim that when they bought these so-called Halloween-themed candies, there were no specific details on the candies themselves, like they were just plain chocolates, and that’s it. So for that very reason, they went on to file this Hershey Lawsuit. And if you don’t know what became of this lawsuit, then just keep on reading. Here we go.
Why Did People Sue Hershey?
The lawsuit came from four Florida residents: Nathan Vidal, Debra Kennick, Abdjul Martin, and Eduardo Granados. They averred Hershey violated consumer protection laws by canvassing to make the candies look better on the package than in real life.
As an example, in 2023, Nathan purchased three bags of Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins. The jars depicted pumpkins with faces of carved jack-o-lanterns. However, when he unpacked, the pumpkins were unpainted chocolates. He added that he wouldn’t have picked them out if he had been informed.
It was not just about an apology. It was $5 million, which the group believed to be Hershey’s earnings in Florida for the sale of these Halloween Reese’s over some three years.
What Was Hershey’s Response?
In a simple defense, Hershey said that the taste remains the same. It is just the same chocolate and peanut butter that people came to expect, only without the mangled look.
The packaging was another point of contention. Besides the designs, the wrappers bore drawings of “ordinary” chocolates, and even one of a pumpkin with a bite taken out of it. A tiny little disclaimer also indicated “decorating suggestion.” Hershey argued that no reasonable person would assume that the candy would exactly resemble the illustrations.
What Did the Court Decide?
On the 19th of September, 2025, the lawsuit against the U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian was thrown out. She declared that the complainants failed to demonstrate that they suffered a financial loss or received a product of no use. She explained that although the chocolates might have been a letdown, they were not “so bad they were worthless.” Basically, the sweets still retained some value as they were from Reese’s, only without the scary stories.
Disposal was not final, and the plaintiffs could re-launch proceedings in case they came up with stronger allegations.
What Did the Lawyer Say?
The plaintiffs’ counsel, Anthony Russo, said the matter was dismissed because the complaint was insufficiently specific, not because the claims were invalid. He said companies should be held liable when their packaging does not fit the actual product. He intends to refile, so perhaps the case may find itself back in court.
So, In The End, What Was It All About Then?
Cases like this aren’t rare. Food companies are often taken to court in packaging and marketing claims issues, whether it be “all-natural” labels, “real fruit” claims, or bags appearing half empty. This lawsuit against Reese’s is one instance of consumers testing the water between what constitutes an advertisement and what constitutes misleading information.
Chocolate giant Hershey’s is doing well financially at the moment. According to Hershey, $2.6 billion in sales recently were booked, and Halloween is among the most rewarding seasons. They have also introduced new seasonals like vampire-shaped Kit Kats and ghost Twizzlers. To counteract the increased cocoa prices, they set up a price increase.
