Hershey wins lawsuit claiming its Reese’s Halloween candies aren’t spooky enough
An interesting development unfolded recently for Hershey as a judge dismissed a lawsuit alleging that the company’s Reese’s candies were misleading customers with their Halloween-themed packaging. The lawsuit claimed that the chocolates depicted on the wrappers had spooky designs like jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, and other Halloween figures, but the unwrapped candies were featureless.
U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian ruled that the consumers who filed the lawsuit did not demonstrate any economic harm from the lack of confectionary details on the chocolates. While the candies may not have matched the expectations set by the packaging, they were still deemed valuable as they retained their original taste and quality.
The lawsuit targeted various Hershey candies marketed during Halloween, such as Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins and Reese’s White Ghost, alongside other holiday-themed chocolates like Reese’s Peanut Butter Shapes Assortment Snowmen Stockings Bells.
The original lawsuit, filed in 2024, accused Hershey of deceptive advertising due to the disparity between the artistic designs on the wrappers and the actual appearance of the candies.
Judge Damian emphasized that the discrepancy between the wrappers and the chocolates’ actual look did not amount to a tangible economic injury. The judge highlighted that the plaintiffs’ dissatisfaction stemmed from their personal expectations rather than any substantial harm.
Attorney Anthony Russo, representing the consumers, expressed their intention to amend the complaint to address the court’s concerns. Russo emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable for misrepresenting product characteristics and ensuring that consumers receive what they pay for.
Hershey has yet to comment on the ruling.
