Do Milk Duds Have Real Chocolate? The Truth About That Iconic Coating

November 28, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the coating on Milk Duds cannot be legally called 'milk chocolate'. This is because while Milk Duds do contain some cocoa, their iconic, chewy caramel is coated in a confectionery chocolate coating, not a true milk chocolate.

Quick Summary

Milk Duds are not coated in real milk chocolate, but rather a less expensive confectionery coating made with cocoa and vegetable oil. The manufacturer, Hershey's, altered the recipe in 2008, and US food labeling laws prevent them from legally calling the coating 'milk chocolate' since it lacks the required cocoa butter.

Key Points

Not Real Milk Chocolate: The coating on Milk Duds is a confectionery coating, not real milk chocolate, as it uses vegetable oils instead of cocoa butter.
Recipe Changed in 2008: Hershey's reformulated the candy in 2008, replacing cocoa butter with cheaper vegetable oils to maintain price stability.
FDA Labeling Requirements: Due to the recipe change, the coating cannot legally be called 'milk chocolate' and must be labeled as a 'chocolatey' or confectionery coating.
Confectionery Coating is Cost-Effective: The use of vegetable oil makes the coating more shelf-stable, easier to work with, and less expensive to produce than traditional chocolate.
Iconic for Its Caramel: The enduring appeal of Milk Duds is largely thanks to their chewy caramel center, which is the star of the candy, regardless of the coating.
'Dud' Has a Meaning: The name 'dud' came from the manufacturer's early inability to produce a perfectly round caramel candy.

The question of whether Milk Duds are truly coated in chocolate is a common point of curiosity for candy lovers. The simple answer, which surprises many, is that the coating is not real chocolate according to strict food labeling standards. Instead, the classic chewy caramel center is covered in a 'confectionery coating' made primarily from cocoa and vegetable oils, rather than the more traditional and expensive cocoa butter. This distinction is crucial for understanding what's really in your movie theater snack.

The Recipe Change That Altered Everything

For many years, the Milk Dud recipe was a cherished classic. However, a significant change occurred in 2008 when The Hershey Company, which produces the candy, altered the ingredients to replace cocoa butter with more cost-effective oil substitutes. This move was driven by a desire to keep the product price stable for consumers, avoiding the need to increase prices in the marketplace. The result was a different ingredient list and a change in the product's official description.

What are the main ingredients of Milk Duds?

The ingredients of Milk Duds highlight the difference between real and confectionery coatings. A typical list includes:

Corn Syrup
Sugar
Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil, Shea Oil, Sunflower Oil, Safflower Oil)
Dextrose
Nonfat Milk
Reduced Protein Whey
Chocolate
Brown Sugar
Whey
Mono- and Diglycerides
Baking Soda
Salt
Confectioner's Glaze
Tapioca Dextrin
Lecithin
Vanillin (Artificial Flavor)

Notably, the ingredient 'chocolate' is present, but it does not contain the cocoa butter required for the coating itself to be classified as 'chocolate.' The inclusion of multiple vegetable oils and artificial flavorings helps to create the taste and texture that mimic traditional chocolate.

Real Chocolate vs. Confectionery Coating

The fundamental difference between real chocolate and confectionery coating lies in the fat used. Real chocolate, by definition, must contain cocoa butter. Confectionery coating, on the other hand, replaces some or all of the cocoa butter with other, less expensive vegetable oils. This change has several implications for the candy's characteristics.

Comparison Table: Real Chocolate vs. Confectionery Coating


Feature	Real Chocolate	Confectionery Coating
Fat Source	Cocoa butter	Vegetable oils (e.g., palm, shea, sunflower)
Tempering	Requires tempering to achieve a glossy finish and smooth texture	No tempering required; easier and cheaper to manufacture
Mouthfeel	Melts smoothly and richly due to the properties of cocoa butter	Can have a waxier, lighter, or different mouthfeel
Flavor	Richer, more complex flavor profile	Simpler, can be more artificial depending on the ingredients
Shelf Life	More sensitive to temperature fluctuations, potential for bloom	Highly stable at room temperature
Cost	More expensive due to the cost of cocoa butter	Less expensive due to use of cheaper oils

The Naming Convention and Legal Implications

Following the 2008 recipe change, Hershey's was forced to adjust the product's labeling to comply with FDA regulations. Products that do not contain cocoa butter cannot be described as "milk chocolate". This is why the packaging may use phrases like "chocolate candy" or "candy made with chocolate and caramel". This legal distinction is a key reason Milk Duds are not considered to have a real milk chocolate coating by industry standards.

The Legacy of Milk Duds

Despite the recipe changes and the debate over the coating, Milk Duds remain a beloved and popular candy, particularly at movie theaters. The unique, chewy caramel texture and the nostalgia associated with the product have kept it a staple for nearly a century. The name itself has an interesting history, with the "duds" referring to the manufacturer's initial inability to create a perfectly spherical candy. The "milk" refers to the high milk content in the original recipe. Today, these quirks are part of the brand's enduring charm. Learn more about the differences between chocolate and confectionery coating.

Conclusion: More Than Just the Coating

While the answer to "Do Milk Duds have real chocolate?" is technically no, it doesn't diminish the candy's place in confectionery history. The journey from a true milk chocolate coating to a confectionery one reflects economic pressures and evolving food science. The iconic caramel and chocolatey taste, however, remain a nostalgic treat for many. The crucial takeaway for consumers is to understand the difference between confectionery coatings and real chocolate, a distinction that food labeling laws help to clarify.

The Verdict: Do Milk Duds Have Real Chocolate?

The coating on Milk Duds is not legally classified as 'real' milk chocolate due to the use of vegetable oils instead of cocoa butter.
A recipe change in 2008 by manufacturer Hershey's replaced the expensive cocoa butter with cheaper oil substitutes.
Under US FDA labeling laws, this product must be described as 'chocolate candy' or with a 'confectionery coating'.
Despite the technicality, the candy's nostalgic appeal and unique caramel flavor keep it a popular treat.

Frequently Asked Questions

The coating on Milk Duds is a confectionery chocolate coating, which is a mix of cocoa, sugar, and vegetable oils like palm, shea, and sunflower oil, rather than the traditional cocoa butter found in real chocolate.

The coating is not considered 'real' chocolate because U.S. Food and Drug Administration laws mandate that for a product to be called chocolate, it must contain cocoa butter. Milk Duds use cheaper vegetable oils as a substitute.

The recipe was changed by The Hershey Company in 2008. They replaced the more expensive cocoa butter with cheaper vegetable oils to avoid a price increase.

Confectionery coating often contains more processed ingredients and cheaper fats. While it can be more stable and easier to use, real chocolate contains cocoa butter, which contributes to a different flavor and mouthfeel. Health implications largely depend on the overall dietary context, as confectionery coatings are typically high in sugar and saturated fats.

The main difference is the fat source. Real chocolate uses cocoa butter, while confectionery coating uses cheaper vegetable fats like palm oil. This difference affects the flavor, mouthfeel, and manufacturing process.

The 'milk' part of the name refers to the significant amount of milk used in the caramel. The 'duds' came from a failed manufacturing attempt to create perfectly spherical candies, resulting in the irregular shapes we see today.

Yes, many people still enjoy Milk Duds for their sweet, chewy caramel and chocolatey flavor. The nostalgic appeal and unique texture of the candy have kept it a popular choice for decades, despite the coating not being real chocolate.