Reese’s Pumpkin Packaging Changes After Legal Dispute
Hershey updates Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin packaging following a legal battle over its design.
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Hershey Company has updated the packaging for its popular Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins following a legal dispute. The seasonal candy now features a new disclaimer on both the front and back of its wrappers, stating, “Carving not on actual product,” replacing the previous “Decorating Suggestion” text, according to Fox Business.
Legal Dispute Over Design Misrepresentation
The packaging for the Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins originally depicted a Jack-O-Lantern face, but the actual candy inside did not include that design. This led to a class-action lawsuit filed by two Florida consumers who claimed they were misled by the packaging, which they argued misrepresented the product.
U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian in Miami ruled that the plaintiffs did not have the legal standing to claim they paid too much for the product. The judge noted that the plaintiffs’ only injury was subjective disappointment, as they did not allege that the product was defective or of no value. The plaintiffs sought $5 million, arguing that Hershey’s marketing violated consumer protection laws.
Company Defends Its Position
Hershey defended its packaging, stating that reasonable consumers would understand the images as suggestions rather than exact representations. The company pointed to the existing “Decorating Suggestion” disclaimer and argued that customers received exactly what they purchased: Reese’s candy that was not defective or inedible.
Positive Consumer Feedback Remains
Despite the legal dispute, reviews on the Hershey website for the Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins remain overwhelmingly positive. Many consumers praised the candy’s taste and seasonal appeal, with one reviewer calling it their “kryptonite.”
Interestingly, while the Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins are a seasonal favorite, the most popular Halloween candy in America is the company’s Peanut Butter Cups, which took first place in a recent ranking by All Recipes.
Source: Breitbart
