Hershey has added a fresh warning label to its Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins this spooky season: “Carving not on actual product.” The new disclaimer appears right below the picture of a candy sporting a fully carved, picture-perfect jack-o’-lantern face.
The update replaces the older, optimistic “Decorating suggestion” label following a lawsuit from consumers who were shocked—shocked!—to discover that the peanut butter-filled blobs inside didn’t automatically come pre-carved like the pictures. One disappointed plaintiff claimed he bought multiple bags in 2023 expecting miniature works of edible art, only to find plain chocolate patties instead.
The lawsuit sought $5 million in damages, calling out other offender shapes including ghosts, bats, and footballs. However, a federal judge tossed the case out, legally categorizing the consumers’ plight as nothing more than “subjective disappointment.”
While Hershey hasn’t explicitly explained the label tweak, the plaintiffs’ attorneys are still deciding whether to appeal the tragic loss of their un-carved peanut butter dreams.
