Is Hershey's real chocolate?
David Mccullough
Published Jan 20, 2026
Hershey's chocolate is made from cacao beans, milk, sugar, and cocoa butter, but the actual chocolate-making process begins long before that. In fact, it's a fascinating but labor-intensive process that will make you appreciate every sweet bite.
Why is Hershey's not real chocolate?
The removal of cocoa butter violates the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's definition of milk chocolate, so subtle changes have appeared on the labels of the Hershey's products with altered recipes. Products once labeled “milk chocolate” now say “chocolate candy,” “made with chocolate” or “chocolatey.”How much actual chocolate is in a Hershey bar?
Hershey's regular milk chocolate tops out at about 30 percent cacao.Is Hershey's fake?
The candy company said last week that its milk chocolate Hershey's Kisses and bars are now being made with flavor from real vanilla instead of an artificial flavor. The change is the first part of The Hershey Co.'s previously announced plans to use simpler ingredients.How pure is Hershey's chocolate?
Learn the Varieties of CocoaBoth varieties contain 100 percent pure cocoa, but Hershey's processes the Special Dark with alkali. This process, known as dutching, makes it taste less bitter and look darker. Dutching also changes the nutrient content of cocoa, according to a 2017 report in the Journal of Food Science.