Hershey Wins Florida Lawsuit Over Reese's Halloween Candy Labeling

Hershey Co. successfully defended against a class-action lawsuit claiming it misled consumers by selling Halloween-themed Reese's peanut butter candies that lacked the decorative chocolate carvings depicted on their packaging. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate economic harm, noting the candies were not defective, unfit for consumption, or worthless. The lawsuit targeted nine Reese's products, including pumpkin, bat, ghost, and football-shaped candies that appeared plain despite images suggesting detailed facial features or stitching. The court emphasized that the packaging included disclaimers indicating the carvings were a "DECORATING SUGGESTION," and the plaintiffs' subjective belief they overpaid was insufficient to support their claims. Although the plaintiffs sought at least $5 million in damages, the judge allowed for the possibility of an amended complaint. Hershey maintained that consumers received the product they paid for—"delicious Reese's candy."