The Ingredient Breakdown: Classic Cups vs. Other Products
The ingredient list for Reese's products is not uniform across the entire brand. While the iconic milk chocolate Peanut Butter Cups have historically been free of palm oil, other popular products and seasonal variants frequently include it. This highlights the importance of checking the label of each specific item.
The Original Peanut Butter Cup
For many consumers concerned about palm oil, the classic Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup is often a safe choice. Ingredient lists for this specific product typically show the chocolate shell is made with cocoa butter, not palm oil. The peanut butter filling contains peanuts, sugar, dextrose, and salt, with a preservative. It is important to note, however, that the brand’s ingredient sourcing can change, so label-reading is still critical.
The Case of Reese's Pieces
In contrast to the classic cup, Reese's Pieces are known to contain palm oil. The ingredients list for Reese's Pieces explicitly includes "Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Oil, Soybean Oil)" and "Palm Kernel Oil". The oil is used in the candy shell to provide a consistent, hard texture and prevent the candy from sticking together.
Special Editions and Variations
Seasonal shapes and other product variations are where the use of palm oil becomes more common. For example, products like Reese's Baking Cups and Reese's Pieces candy list a combination of vegetable oils, including palm oil. White chocolate varieties are also more likely to contain it. It is not uncommon for manufacturers to adjust recipes for different formats to achieve the desired texture, taste, and shelf stability, especially for seasonal items.
Why Palm Oil is Used in Mass-Produced Candy
Candy manufacturers like Hershey's opt for palm oil for several functional and economic reasons. These benefits are often what drives its inclusion in many ultra-processed foods.
Functional Properties
- Texture and Consistency: Palm oil and its hydrogenated versions can be solid at room temperature, which is crucial for giving candies a desirable shape, texture, and mouthfeel. It helps to create a creamy filling or a crisp, glossy chocolate coating that resists melting.
- Longer Shelf Life: Palm oil resists oxidation, preventing it from becoming rancid as quickly as other oils. This extends the shelf life of products, which is a major factor for mass-produced goods sold in stores.
- Stable at High Temperatures: During manufacturing, palm oil's high heat tolerance ensures it doesn't degrade, allowing for more consistent and efficient production processes.
Economic Advantages
Palm oil is the most cost-effective vegetable oil on the market due to its high yield per hectare, making it an attractive option for companies looking to manage production costs and increase profit margins. This affordability allows companies to sell products at competitive price points.
Hershey's Commitment to Sustainable Palm Oil
As the parent company of Reese's, The Hershey Company has a public commitment to sourcing 100% responsibly grown palm oil. Since 2011, Hershey has been a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
What is RSPO Certification?
RSPO certification is a set of global standards for sustainable palm oil production that aims to reduce deforestation, protect human rights, and promote transparency. Hershey sources 100% RSPO Mass Balance and Segregated certified palm oil, which provides a degree of assurance regarding sourcing practices.
Supply Chain Traceability
Hershey is working towards achieving 100% traceability of its palm oil supply chain to the plantation level by 2025. They partner with organizations like the Earthworm Foundation to monitor deforestation and verify their supply chain practices. While this is a step toward mitigating the negative environmental impacts associated with conventional palm oil, it is an ongoing process.
Comparison Table: Original Cups vs. Reese's Pieces
| Feature | Original Reese's Peanut Butter Cups | Reese's Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Oil | No (based on typical ingredients list) | Yes |
| Function of Oil | Not included; uses cocoa butter | Used for shell consistency and stability |
| Primary Fat Source | Peanuts, Milk Fat, Cocoa Butter | Partially Defatted Peanuts, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Oil, Soybean Oil) |
| Texture | Soft peanut butter filling, classic chocolate shell | Hard, crunchy candy shell over a peanut butter center |
How to Check for Palm Oil in Reese's Products
To be certain whether a specific Reese's product contains palm oil, always check the ingredient label. Manufacturers are required to list all ingredients. Look for the following aliases or related terms:
- Palm Oil
- Palm Kernel Oil
- Vegetable Oil (when combined with "palm")
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (when palm is listed)
- Palmate
- Palmolein
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Sodium Kernelate
The Environmental Impact of Conventional Palm Oil
The widespread production of conventional palm oil has been linked to significant environmental and social issues, primarily in Malaysia and Indonesia, where most of the world's supply originates. These issues include:
- Deforestation: Large areas of tropical forests are cleared for plantations, leading to habitat loss for endangered species like orangutans, elephants, and tigers.
- Biodiversity Loss: The destruction of diverse ecosystems to create monoculture plantations erodes biodiversity.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Clearing and burning forests and draining carbon-rich peatlands release large amounts of greenhouse gases.
- Human Rights Issues: The industry has faced scrutiny for unethical labor practices and violations of land rights for indigenous communities.
The Search for Alternatives
The search for a truly sustainable and scalable alternative to palm oil is complex. While other oils exist, they often come with their own challenges.
- Other Vegetable Oils: Alternatives like sunflower, soybean, and rapeseed oils are options, but they are less productive per land area than palm oil. This means that replacing palm oil completely with these crops could require significantly more land, potentially shifting the deforestation problem to other ecosystems.
- Emerging Technologies: Some companies are exploring novel technologies like microbial oils, which are produced through fermentation and require less land. However, these are still costly and not yet scalable for mass production.
- Sustainable Consumption: For consumers, the most effective alternative is to reduce overall consumption of highly processed snacks and choose products with transparent and verified sustainable sourcing.
Conclusion
Ultimately, whether a Reese's product contains palm oil depends on the specific item. While the classic peanut butter cups are typically palm oil-free, many variations and specialty candies, including Reese's Pieces, do include it. The parent company, Hershey's, is actively working toward more sustainable and traceable sourcing through its RSPO membership, but consumers remain responsible for reading individual product labels. This awareness allows for informed purchasing decisions that consider both ingredients and environmental impact.
One resource for those interested in sustainable sourcing and certification is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a global organization focused on promoting sustainable palm oil production. Visit the RSPO website for more information.
