Hershey’s Non-GMO Switch and Reese’s Ingredients: What Changed, What Didn’t, and Why It Matters

Did Hershey remove GMOs from its chocolate, and does that make it healthier? Starting in 2015, Hershey reformulated Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars and Kisses to use cane sugar instead of genetically engineered beet sugar, non-GM soy lecithin, natural vanilla, and milk from cows not treated with rBST. Other brands such as Reese’s were not part of that first pledge. The change mattered to shoppers avoiding GMOs, but candy’s main health issue is its sugar, not where the sugar came from.

In February 2015, Hershey announced it would remove genetically modified ingredients from two of its most famous products by the end of that year, as part of a broader move toward “simple ingredients.” Advocacy groups had pressed the company for years, and the announcement made national news. Later, social media posts questioned why Reese’s, also made by Hershey, had not received the same treatment, and holiday complaints about misshapen Reese’s trees added to the attention. This article explains what Hershey actually changed, what stayed the same, why sugar beets became the center of the story, and what the switch means for health.

What Did Hershey Change in 2015?

Hershey changed several ingredients in its best-known products. According to ConfectioneryNews, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate had previously used both beet and cane sugar and moved to cane sugar only, which is now listed as “cane sugar” on the label. The company replaced the emulsifier polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and artificial vanillin with natural flavor, which led to slightly more cocoa butter in the recipe. Hershey’s research chief said the company chose cane because it is not genetically modified and that it had not raised wholesale prices for the reformulated products despite the added cost. The company also moved to non-GM soy lecithin and to milk from cows not treated with the growth hormone rBST.

What Else Did Hershey Promise Under “Simple Ingredients”?

The non-GMO switch was part of a wider plan. In its 2015 announcement, reported by trade press, Hershey said it was looking to formulate new products and transition existing ones toward no artificial flavors, no synthetic colors, no high-fructose corn syrup, and gluten-free recipes where possible, and it planned new “simple snacking” products without high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors and flavors. These goals were broader and more gradual than the specific non-GMO commitment for its flagship chocolate, and progress varied by brand. The company also became an early supporter of SmartLabel, a digital system that lets shoppers scan packages for detailed ingredient information.

Why Do Companies Make Partial Pledges?

Reformulating every product at once is expensive and risky. Flagship products carry the brand’s reputation, so they are often changed first to show commitment and test customer reaction. Supply matters too: switching a large portfolio to cane sugar or certified non-GM ingredients requires enough reliable supply at acceptable prices, and as NPR reported, cane sugar was already in short supply as demand rose. Some products rely on ingredients with no easy non-GM substitute. For shoppers, the practical lesson is that a company’s pledge for one product does not automatically apply to its other brands, so labels on each product remain the best guide.

Why Was Sugar the Key Ingredient?

Because of how U.S. sugar is produced. About half of U.S. sugar comes from sugar beets and half from sugar cane, and nearly all American sugar beets are genetically engineered to tolerate the herbicide glyphosate, while genetically engineered sugar cane is not grown commercially in the United States. NPR reported in 2016 that Hershey had completed the switch for Kisses, Milk Chocolate, and Milk Chocolate with Almonds, and that buyers were paying roughly 10 to 15 percent more for cane sugar than beet sugar as demand shifted. The move unsettled sugar beet growers, some of whom considered returning to non-GM beets, showing how one large buyer’s ingredient decision can ripple through farming.

What About Reese’s?

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and other Reese’s products were not part of Hershey’s 2015 non-GMO pledge, which focused on the company’s flagship milk chocolate bar and Kisses. Ingredient lists for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have included sugar without a cane designation, soy lecithin, the emulsifier PGPR, and the preservative TBHQ with citric acid to maintain freshness. That contrast fueled online criticism that Hershey had cleaned up some products while leaving others unchanged. Recipes and labels change over time, so shoppers who want to avoid specific ingredients should check the current package. Since 2022, the federal bioengineered food disclosure rule has required labels when products contain detectable genetically engineered material, though highly refined ingredients such as sugar are often exempt.

Are PGPR and TBHQ Safe?

Both are approved food additives used in small amounts. PGPR, or polyglycerol polyricinoleate, is an emulsifier made from castor oil and glycerol that helps chocolate flow and allows manufacturers to use less cocoa butter; regulators in the United States and Europe permit it within set limits. TBHQ, or tertiary butylhydroquinone, is an antioxidant preservative that slows fats from going rancid; U.S. rules limit it to 0.02 percent of a product’s fat content. Some animal studies at high doses have raised questions about TBHQ, which is one reason it appears on many shoppers’ avoid lists, but at permitted levels regulators consider it safe. Neither additive is the main health concern in a candy bar.

Is Sugar From GM Beets Different From Cane Sugar?

Not in the finished product. Refined sugar from beets and from cane is the same molecule, sucrose, and the refining process removes nearly all plant protein and DNA, which is why refined sugar from GM beets is often exempt from federal bioengineered labeling. A 2014 review in Critical Reviews in Biotechnology by Alessandro Nicolia and colleagues, covering about 1,800 studies, found no significant hazards directly connected with eating GM crops. The more substantive concerns about GM sugar beets involve farming: a 2016 analysis in Environmental Sciences Europe by Charles Benbrook documented the steep rise in glyphosate use that followed the adoption of herbicide-tolerant crops, including sugar beets. Shoppers who choose cane sugar to avoid supporting herbicide-tolerant farming are making a reasonable values choice, even if the sugar itself is chemically identical.

Why Did Shoppers Push for Non-GMO Chocolate?

A mix of concerns, many unrelated to food safety. Some consumers object to genetic engineering on principle, some worry about herbicide use and corporate control of seeds, and some want more transparency about how food is made. Knowledge about genetic engineering is often limited. A 2016 national survey in The FASEB Journal by Brandon McFadden and Jayson Lusk found low knowledge and many misperceptions about GM food; about as many people supported mandatory labels on foods containing DNA as supported labels on GM foods. Companies respond to these preferences because they affect sales, which is why non-GMO claims spread through candy, snacks, and restaurant chains, as our article on Chipotle’s GMO-free pledge describes.

Is Non-GMO Chocolate Healthier?

Not meaningfully. A non-GMO milk chocolate bar has essentially the same calories, sugar, and fat as the previous recipe. The bigger health question is how much added sugar a person eats overall. A 2009 American Heart Association scientific statement in Circulation led by Rachel Johnson advised limiting added sugars to no more than about 100 calories a day for most women and 150 calories for most men, roughly 6 and 9 teaspoons. A 2017 AHA statement led by Miriam Vos recommended that children consume no more than 25 grams, about 6 teaspoons, of added sugars a day and avoid added sugars before age 2. A standard milk chocolate bar or a two-cup pack of peanut butter cups can supply most of a child’s daily limit on its own.

Is Any Chocolate Good for You?

Cocoa contains compounds called flavanols that have shown benefits for blood vessels in small studies, but milk chocolate candy contains relatively little of them, and processing can destroy them. The largest test of cocoa flavanols came from the COSMOS trial, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2022 by Howard Sesso and colleagues. Among 21,442 older U.S. adults, a cocoa extract supplement providing 500 milligrams of flavanols a day did not significantly reduce total cardiovascular events over a median of 3.6 years, though cardiovascular deaths were 27 percent lower, a secondary finding. The supplement delivered far more flavanols than a candy bar, without the sugar and fat. Dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage contains more flavanols than milk chocolate, but any chocolate is best treated as an occasional treat.

How Do Common Chocolate Choices Compare?

Choice	What to know	Best use
Milk chocolate (cane sugar, non-GMO)	Avoids GM beet sugar; same sugar and calories	Occasional treat
Filled candies (peanut butter cups, bars)	More ingredients, often emulsifiers and preservatives	Occasional treat; check label
Dark chocolate, 70% cocoa or more	More cocoa flavanols, less sugar per gram	Small portions
USDA Organic chocolate	No GM ingredients or synthetic pesticides	For shoppers avoiding GMOs and pesticides
Non-GMO Project Verified	Third-party tested for GM ingredients	More reliable than company-only claims

How Can I Tell If a Chocolate Is Non-GMO?

Look for specific signals on the package. The USDA Organic seal prohibits genetically engineered ingredients, and the Non-GMO Project Verified butterfly indicates third-party testing and standards. An ingredient list that specifies “cane sugar” rather than just “sugar” suggests the sugar did not come from GM beets. Company-only claims such as “no GMO ingredients” are less reliable, as independent testing of other foods has shown; our article on tortilla chips that failed GMO testing describes one example. The federal bioengineered disclosure helps for some products but often does not apply to refined sugar and oils.

Did Other Candy Makers Follow?

Hershey’s announcement came as many food companies were reworking recipes in response to consumer demand. Around the same time, Nestlé USA committed to removing artificial colors and flavors from its confectionery range, and several snack and cereal makers announced similar “clean label” changes. Some companies later slowed or modified their plans because of cost, supply, or customer reaction to altered taste or appearance. Ingredient changes have continued in recent years as several U.S. states and federal regulators moved to restrict certain synthetic food dyes, pushing candy makers to reformulate colorful products.

How Did the Switch Affect Sugar Beet Farmers?

Noticeably. Hershey had been a major buyer of beet sugar, and its decision was discussed at sugar beet cooperatives’ annual meetings. As more food companies sought cane sugar, the price gap between cane and beet sugar widened, and some beet farmers, who had adopted herbicide-tolerant varieties to simplify weed control, considered returning to conventional seed. The episode showed that consumer pressure on a few large brands can reshape agricultural markets, although most sugar beets grown in the United States remain genetically engineered.

Why Did Hershey Also Drop Milk From rBST-Treated Cows?

The same consumer concerns applied to dairy. rBST, also called rBGH, is a synthetic hormone that some U.S. dairies once used to increase milk production. U.S. regulators concluded that milk from treated cows is safe to drink, but the hormone is banned in the European Union, Canada, and other countries, largely over animal welfare concerns such as higher rates of udder infections. Many dairies and food companies stopped using rBST milk as shoppers rejected it. Our article on rBGH in milk covers the science and the controversy in detail. For Hershey, sourcing rBST-free milk was part of presenting its flagship chocolates as made from simple, familiar ingredients.

Why Is Chocolate Hard to Reformulate?

Small ingredient changes affect taste, texture, and how chocolate behaves in factory equipment. Emulsifiers such as soy lecithin and PGPR reduce the thickness of melted chocolate so it flows into molds and coats fillings evenly. When Hershey removed PGPR, it compensated partly by using more cocoa butter, a costlier ingredient, according to the company’s research chief. Switching sugar sources can change sweetness and crystal behavior slightly, and replacing artificial vanillin with natural flavor alters the aroma. Companies test changes extensively because customers notice when a familiar candy tastes different, which helps explain why reformulations often start with one or two flagship products rather than an entire portfolio.

Does Chocolate Contain Other Contaminants?

Some chocolate products contain trace heavy metals. Cocoa plants take up cadmium from soil in some growing regions, and lead can settle on cocoa beans during drying and processing. Consumer Reports testing in 2022 found measurable lead and cadmium in many dark chocolate bars, including some from major brands, prompting calls for manufacturers to lower levels and several lawsuits. Dark chocolate tends to have more of these metals than milk chocolate because it contains more cocoa solids. For most adults, eating chocolate in moderation keeps exposure low, but it is sensible to limit dark chocolate for young children and during pregnancy and to vary brands. Similar heavy metal concerns apply to some spices, as covered in our article on lead in spices.

How Can Families Handle Candy at Holidays?

Holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter bring large amounts of candy into homes. Practical approaches include letting children choose a few favorites and storing the rest out of sight, pairing a small treat with a meal rather than offering candy between meals, keeping fruit and nuts available as alternatives, and choosing fun-size portions. Families avoiding GMOs or specific additives can read labels in advance, look for organic or certified non-GMO options, and remember that the amount of candy matters more for health than any single ingredient on the list.

Common Myths

“Non-GMO chocolate is healthier.” It has the same sugar, fat, and calories as the original recipe.

“All Hershey products went non-GMO in 2015.” The pledge covered the flagship milk chocolate bar and Kisses, not every brand.

“GM beet sugar is chemically different from cane sugar.” Both are refined sucrose.

“Chocolate is a health food because of cocoa.” Milk chocolate candy contains little cocoa flavanol and a lot of sugar.

“Approved additives like PGPR are banned elsewhere.” PGPR is permitted in both the U.S. and Europe within set limits.

Key Terms

Sucrose: Table sugar, whether refined from beets or cane.

Soy lecithin: An emulsifier that helps chocolate ingredients blend smoothly.

PGPR: Polyglycerol polyricinoleate, an emulsifier that improves chocolate flow.

TBHQ: Tertiary butylhydroquinone, a preservative that slows fats from going rancid.

rBST: Recombinant bovine somatotropin, a synthetic hormone used to increase milk production.

The Bottom Line

Hershey followed through on its 2015 pledge for its flagship products, switching Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Almonds, and Kisses from GM beet sugar to cane sugar, adopting non-GM soy lecithin, natural vanilla, and rBST-free milk, and removing PGPR. Reese’s and other brands were not part of that first commitment. The switch addressed consumer concerns about genetic engineering and herbicide-tolerant farming, but it did not change the nutrition of the candy. For health, the amount of added sugar matters far more than whether it came from beets or cane, so chocolate of any kind is best enjoyed in small portions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hershey’s chocolate non-GMO?

Hershey reformulated Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Almonds, and Kisses starting in 2015 to remove genetically engineered ingredients, mainly by switching from beet sugar to cane sugar and using non-GM soy lecithin. Not every Hershey product was included in that pledge, so check the current label or look for third-party certifications if avoiding GMOs is important to you.

Are Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups non-GMO?

Reese’s products were not part of Hershey’s 2015 non-GMO pledge, and their ingredient lists have included sugar without a cane designation, soy lecithin, PGPR, and the preservative TBHQ. Formulations can change, so the current package is the best guide. People who want non-GMO peanut butter cups can look for organic or Non-GMO Project Verified brands.

Why did Hershey switch from beet sugar to cane sugar?

Nearly all U.S. sugar beets are genetically engineered to tolerate the herbicide glyphosate, while genetically engineered sugar cane is not grown commercially in the U.S. Switching to cane sugar was the main way to remove GM ingredients from its chocolate. Hershey said the decision reflected consumer preferences, not safety concerns about beet sugar, and it paid more for cane sugar.

Is GM beet sugar bad for you?

No evidence shows that refined sugar from GM beets is less safe than cane sugar. Both are sucrose, and refining removes nearly all plant DNA and protein. Major scientific reviews have found approved GM foods safe to eat. The real health concern is the amount of added sugar people eat, regardless of its source.

How much chocolate is okay to eat?

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar to about 100 calories a day for most women, 150 for most men, and 25 grams for children. A standard milk chocolate bar can use up much of that. Small portions of dark chocolate with high cocoa content are a better choice for people who enjoy chocolate regularly.

References

1. Nicolia A, Manzo A, Veronesi F, et al. An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology. 2014;34(1):77–88. PMID 24041244
2. Benbrook CM. Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and globally. Environmental Sciences Europe. 2016;28(1):3. PMID 27752438
3. McFadden BR, Lusk JL. What consumers don’t know about genetically modified food, and how that affects beliefs. FASEB Journal. 2016;30(9):3091–3096. PMID 27199295
4. Johnson RK, Appel LJ, Brands M, et al. Dietary sugars intake and cardiovascular health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2009;120(11):1011–1020. PMID 19704096
5. Vos MB, Kaar JL, Welsh JA, et al. Added sugars and cardiovascular disease risk in children: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017;135(19):e1017–e1034. PMID 27550974
6. Sesso HD, Manson JE, Aragaki AK, et al. Effect of cocoa flavanol supplementation for the prevention of cardiovascular disease events: the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2022;115(6):1490–1500. PMID 35294962
7. ConfectioneryNews. Removing GMOs easy; ditching chemical-sounding ingredients the challenge, says Hershey R&D chief. December 2016. confectionerynews.com
8. NPR. As Big Candy Ditches GMOs, Sugar Beet Farmers Hit A Sour Patch. May 2016. npr.org

Last updated: October 10, 2026