Reese's Peanut Buttercups: A Halal Perspective

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, the iconic combination of smooth peanut butter enveloped in rich milk chocolate, have become one of America’s most beloved candy treats. The distinctive orange packaging is instantly recognizable to candy lovers worldwide, and the perfect balance of creamy, nutty filling against sweet chocolate coating has made these cups a go-to indulgence for millions of people.

From convenience store checkout counters to grocery store candy aisles, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have secured their place as a confectionery staple, enjoyed as afternoon snacks, occasional treats, and even incorporated into dessert recipes and seasonal variations. However, for Muslim consumers who follow halal dietary guidelines, an important question arises before reaching for that familiar orange wrapper: Are Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Halal? Understanding the halal status of these popular confections requires a careful examination of their ingredients, manufacturing processes, and certification standards.

Let’s explore the world of Reese’s treats and uncover the truth behind their halal status.

History of the Product

Reese’s journey began with Harry Burnett Reese, an American inventor who founded the H.B. Reese Candy Company in 1923. His Peanut Butter Cups quickly became a beloved treat, and after his passing, the company merged with The Hershey Company, making Reese’s a household name. Today, Reese’s offers a variety of products, from Peanut Butter Cups to ice cream to wafers.

With each product’s evolution, Reese’s has continued to innovate, creating seasonal and special edition treats that cater to a wide array of tastes and preferences. This ongoing innovation and widespread popularity make it important to understand their compliance with halal standards.

Ingredient Analysis

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Ingredients (UPC 034000004409):

MILK CHOCOLATE [SUGAR; COCOA BUTTER; CHOCOLATE; SKIM MILK; MILK FAT; LACTOSE; LECITHIN (SOY); PGPR (An emulsifier)]; PEANUTS; SUGAR; DEXTROSE; SALT; TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID, TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS

Code: UPC 034000004409 – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, 1.5-Ounce Packages (Pack of 36) | upcitemdb.com

Ingredient Breakdown with E-Numbers:

Milk Products	–	Mashbuh	Animal	Animal Unknown Ingredients
Soy Lecithin	E322	Halal	Plant	Soybean-derived emulsifier
PGPR	E476	Halal	Plant	Castor bean & glycerol emulsifier
Wheat	–	Halal	Plant	–
Tree Nuts (Peanuts)	–	Halal	Plant	–
Artificial Flavor	–	Mashbuh	Unknown	Source unclear
Vanillin	–	Halal	Plant	–
Modified Cornstarch	–	Halal	Plant	–
Confectioner’s Glaze	–	Mashbuh	Animal	May contain shellac
Salt	–	Halal	Mineral	–
TBHQ	E319	Halal	Synthetic	Antioxidant preservative
Citric Acid	E330	Halal	Plant/Synthetic	Preservative, acidity regulator

Breaking down the ingredients:

Milk Products

Breaking down the ingredients:

Milk Products

Status: Mashbuh
Source: Animal – Unknown ingredients

Soy Lecithin (E322)

Status: Halal
Source: Plant

PGPR (E476)

Status: Halal
Source: Plant

Wheat

Status: Halal
Source: Plant

Tree Nuts

Status: Halal
Source: Plant

Milk Packaged in the same facility as peanuts

Status: Halal
Source: Animal

Artificial Flavor

Status: Mashbuh
Source: Animal – Unknown ingredients

Vanillin

Status: Halal
Source: Plant

Modified Cornstarch

Status: Halal
Source: Plant

Soy Lecithin

Status: Halal
Source: Plant

Confectioner’s Glaze

Status: Mashbuh
Source: Animal – May contain shellac

Salt

Status: Halal
Source: Mineral

TBHQ (E319)

Status: Halal
Source: Synthetic

Citric Acid (E330)

Status: Halal
Source: Plant/Synthetic

NB:

Milk Chocolate coating contains: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Lecithin (Soy), PGPR (An emulsifier)
Peanut butter filling contains: Peanuts, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt
Preservatives: TBHQ and Citric Acid (to maintain freshness)

Investigatory Work: Engaging the Manufacturer

As experts in halal compliance, we conducted a direct inquiry with the company producing Reeses Buttercups in 1.5 ounce packages to verify its halal status. Below is the full correspondence:

Our Inquiry

Halal Watch World contacted Reese’s via their website

Company Response to Halal Watch

Thank you for reaching out about our REESE’S products that are certified halal.

We understand the importance of providing accurate information to our consumers. Ingredients and manufacturing locations are subject to change, which may impact halal certification of products.

In addition, many of our products are manufactured at several different sites. For this reason, a specific product that is manufactured at one facility may be certified halal, while the same product manufactured in a different facility may not be certified halal.

To help us ensure that we are providing accurate information, please reply to this email with the products’ UPC barcode numbers and manufacturing code stamped on the package (this is a series of numbers and letters).

We look forward to hearing back from you.

Follow-up Inquiry by Halal Watch World

Following A Halal Watch World Analyst’s query requesting specific product details, Halal Watch World submitted a follow-up inquiry regarding Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (UPC 034000004409) – the 1.5-ounce packages. Despite providing the requested UPC barcode number and following the company’s specified inquiry process, Reese’s did not respond to this query.

How It Is Manufactured

Reese’s products go through a multi-step manufacturing process. The peanut butter mixture is prepared and then coated with a layer of rich milk chocolate. This process involves mixing, molding, and cooling to achieve the final product. Throughout the manufacturing stages, strict hygiene and quality controls are essential to ensure product safety and consistency. All equipment is also thoroughly cleaned to keep the product hygienic, avoid cross-contamination, and ensure they are consistent.

Hadith References

The Principle of Default Permissibility: “The lawful is clear and the unlawful is clear, and between them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus, he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor…” (Sahih al-Bukhari 52 and Sahih Muslim 1599)

Permissibility of Foods Unless Specifically Prohibited: Sa’id b. Jubair reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “Had it been forbidden (haram), it could not be eaten on the table of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ).” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 4956)

Guidance on Doubtful Matters: “Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2518, classified as Hasan Sahih)

Final Verdict – Reese's is Halal

Reeses contain ingredients that are halal compliant, although there may be concerns regarding cross-contamination. According to the classical opinion we follow, sugar, and related dairy products are halal, as evidenced by the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Despite our direct inquiry to Hershey Company regarding the halal status and manufacturing details of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, we did not receive a response to our query. This lack of response does not provide the clarity we hoped for regarding specific manufacturing processes and cross-contamination protocols. We understand the challenges this presents, and we will keep working to uncover the answers that matter to our readers. Until then, the product may be consumed based on ingredient analysis, but we advise caution due to the absence of manufacturer confirmation. We encourage Hershey Company to engage halal certification for their products and respond to consumer inquiries so that the halal-conscious consumer can eat their products in a state of internal peace and comfort.

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