As someone who has liked Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for a long time, I’ve had my fair share of their chocolatey, peanut buttery goodness. But whenever I eat mass-produced candy, I can’t help but wonder what’s really in it. For example, does Reese’s have any pork products in it?
In this article, I’ll explore the history of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and dive into their ingredients over the years. You might be surprised to learn whether America’s favorite candy contains pork or not!
Delving Into Reese’s Origin Story
Let’s start at the beginning. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were created in 1928 by a man named Harry Burnett “HB.” Reese He worked at a dairy farm owned by Milton S. Hershey, founder of the Hershey Company.
Inspired by Hershey’s chocolate, Reese began making his own candy creations using Hershey’s chocolate coating his homemade peanut butter filling. These peanut butter cups quickly became popular locally in Pennsylvania.
Hershey thought Reese’s candy idea had a lot of potential, so they helped him make a lot of peanut butter cups to meet demand. The famous Reese cups were first sold across the country in 1963 when the Hershey Company bought the Reese brand.
Even though Hershey owns and makes Reese’s now, founder H B. Reese himself. But what exactly was in that original recipe?.
Checking Old-Fashioned Ingredients
Many vintage recipes didn’t include long lists of lab-created chemicals like we see today. So I dug into Reese’s original peanut butter cup ingredients for clues on whether pork made an appearance.
According to Reese’s packaging from the 1950s and 60s, here are the simple ingredients that made up their peanut butter filling:
- Roasted peanuts
- Sugar
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil
- Salt
And the chocolate coating contained:
- Milk chocolate
- Sugar
- Cocoa butter
- Chocolate liquor
- Milk fat
- Soy lecithin
- Vanilla
As you can see, no pork products were used in Reese’s classic peanut butter cup recipe. The filling relied on peanuts, sugar, and vegetable oil. And the coating used milk chocolate containing cocoa butter for richness.
This leads me to my next area of investigation – how and when did Reese’s ingredients change over time?
Evolution From Simple to Complex Ingredients
While Reese’s original recipe was quite straightforward, modern food manufacturing practices paved the way for more complex ingredients. Here are some key ways Reese’s peanut butter cups changed over the decades:
1970s – The hydrogenated vegetable oil was replaced with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, which contains trans fats.
1980s – High fructose corn syrup was introduced as a cheaper alternative to sugar. Salt and emulsifiers were also added.
1990s – More advanced emulsifiers and stabilizers like PGPR and soy lecithin increased shelf life.
2000s – Artificial flavors and chemical preservatives like TBHQ were implemented.
So while lard or pork fat was never an ingredient, modern Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups now contain around 30 ingredients compared to the original’s 9 straightforward components.
However, Reese’s has received some backlash over this increased use of fillers, chemicals, and highly processed ingredients. Some consumers want a return to more natural, simpler recipes.
Reese’s Products Today: Any Pork Hiding Inside?
To settle the debate once and for all, I took a close look at current Reese’s peanut butter cup ingredient lists to see if any type of pork product made its way in.
Here are the key ingredients that go into a modern Reese’s peanut butter cup:
Peanut Butter Filling
- Roasted peanuts
- Sugar
- Dextrose
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil
- Salt
- TBHQ (preservative)
Milk Chocolate Coating
- Sugar
- Chocolate liquor
- Cocoa butter
- Milk fat
- Soy lecithin (emulsifier)
- PGPR (emulsifier)
I don’t see any pork ingredients like lard or gelatin hiding in there. The filling still relies on peanuts, sugar, and vegetable oil. And the coating gets its creamy texture from cocoa butter rather than animal fat.
So while the recipe has become more complex over time, pork does not seem to be an ingredient in any variety of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups today. Their iconic taste comes from peanuts, chocolate and sugar.
Why You Won’t Find Pork in Reese’s Products
After investigating the evolution of Reese’s peanut butter cups, the absence of pork products makes sense when you consider:
Taste – The flavors of chocolate and peanut butter are so iconic, pork isn’t needed. Introducing pork could negatively impact the taste.
Texture – Ingredients like cocoa butter and vegetable oil provide the desired smooth, creamy consistency without pork.
Kosher status – Many of Hershey’s products, including Reese’s, are certified Kosher. Pork is not Kosher.
Vegetarian appeal – Pork ingredients would discourage vegetarian consumers from enjoying Reese’s products.
Peanut flavor – The signature peanutty flavor is best achieved using actual peanuts rather than pork products.
The bottom line is Reese’s has stuck to the ingredients that work best for their brand’s identity – peanuts, chocolate and sugar. Pork products would detract rather than enhance their classic candy.
Enjoy Your Favorite Reese’s Treats Guilt-Free
While Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have gone through recipe changes since H.B. Reese’s original version, pork has never made an appearance in the ingredients. I feel satisfied knowing I can bite into the chocolatey peanut butter filling without consuming mystery animal products.
Some people may still prefer to avoid modern processed ingredients like emulsifiers and preservatives in Reese’s. But those looking to avoid pork due to dietary restrictions can continue enjoying these nostalgic treats.
Next time your candy craving strikes, don’t hesitate to break out a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup or pieece. Just keep in mind they are high in sugar, so enjoy in moderation as an occasional indulgence.
Reese’s has certainly come a long way from its early days as a Pennsylvania candy shop specialty. But no matter how the recipe has evolved, Reese’s fans can be assured there won’t be any pork on the ingredients label of these iconic cups.
When your happy meal is extra happy
FAQ
Do reeses have animal products?
What are the ingredients in Reese’s?
Are Reese’s vegetarian?
Does Reese’s have pulled pork?
Yes, you read that right. The BBQ Reese’s Sandwich will feature pulled pork, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce, REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups and bacon bits all wrapped up in a classic hamburger bun. KMBC 9’s Martin Augustine got the chance to try it this morning.
Does Reese’s contain chocolate?
CHOCOLATE COMPONENT IN PLANT BASED REESE’S NOT TRANSPARENT: Shown below, in the ingredient list on the Plant Based Reese’s package, Hershey does not identify what’s inside the ‘Chocolate’ component. However, for Original Reese’s, Hershey does identify the individual ingredients of the chocolate component.
What is a Reese’s BBQ sandwich?
The sandwich, named “BBQ Reese’s Sandwich,” is made with pulled pork doused in Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and topped with bacon bits and crushed and crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Although the saying goes “don’t knock it until you try it,” a lot of people decided to ignore that idiom altogether.
Does original Reese’s have a plant-based substitute for skim milk?
However, for Original Reese’s, Hershey does identify the individual ingredients of the chocolate component. Ironically — in doing so — the Plant Based Reese’s package ingredients do not reveal the actual source of the Plant-Based replacement for the Skim Milk and Milk Fat found in Original Reese’s.