Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 22, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleHershey wins a lawsuit over Halloween Reese's candy designs, as a judge rules no economic harm was shown by plaintiffs.
By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Hershey defeated a lawsuit claiming it misled consumers who were disappointed the Halloween-themed Reese's peanut butter candies they bought lacked the decorative details shown on the labels.
U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian ruled on Friday that the plaintiffs did not show they suffered economic harm because their pumpkin-shaped candies, which they thought would contain "artistic carvings" of triangular eyes and crooked mouths, were blank.
The May 2024 lawsuit challenged the lack of details on nine Reese's products, including a bat-shaped candy missing eyes, a ghost-shaped candy missing eyes and a mouth, and a football-shaped candy that resembled an egg because it had no stitching.
Damian also said the subjective belief of the plaintiffs that they overpaid did not support their claims, or give them standing to sue.
"Put simply, plaintiffs do not allege that the products were unfit for consumption, did not taste as plaintiffs expected, or otherwise were so flawed as to render them worthless," the Miami-based judge wrote.
The proposed class action by Florida residents Nathan Vidal and Eduardo Granados sought at least $5 million in damages. Damian said they may seek to file an amended complaint.
Anthony Russo, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, called the ruling procedural, and said his clients will review their next steps.
Hershey and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In seeking a dismissal, Hershey said the plaintiffs ignored disclaimers on packaging that the carvings were a "DECORATING SUGGESTION."
The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company also said the plaintiffs, in the end, got what they paid for: "delicious Reese's candy."
The case is Vidal et al v Hershey Co, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, No. 24-60831.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New YorkEditing by Marguerita Choy)
The lawsuit claimed that Hershey misled consumers regarding the decorative details of Halloween-themed Reese's candies.
U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian ruled that the plaintiffs did not demonstrate economic harm or that the products were unfit for consumption.
The proposed class action sought at least $5 million in damages from Hershey.
Hershey argued that the plaintiffs ignored disclaimers on the packaging indicating that the carvings were merely a 'DECORATING SUGGESTION.'
The plaintiffs may seek to file an amended complaint following the judge's ruling.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
