Hershey wins dismissal of Reese’s Halloween candy lawsuit

A U.S. District Judge has dismissed an amended class-action lawsuit against The Hershey Company regarding its Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins. The lawsuit, brought by Florida residents Nathan Vidal and Eduardo Granados, alleged that the seasonal candies were misleading because they lacked the decorative carved eyes and mouths depicted on the product packaging.

Judge Melissa Damian ruled that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing, stating that their claims amounted to “subjective disappointment” rather than a concrete financial injury. The court noted that the plaintiffs did not allege the products were defective, worthless, or had lost economic value due to the absence of the carvings.

Hershey defended its products by noting that the packaging included a disclaimer identifying the depicted designs as a “decorating suggestion.” The company argued that consumers received the advertised peanut butter and chocolate candy. The plaintiffs, represented by attorney James Kelly, indicated plans to appeal the decision.