Reese’s wins lawsuit claiming their Halloween chocolates were more trick than treat

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Hershey of deceiving customers with Reese’s Halloween candies that showed spooky designs on the packaging but not on the actual chocolates.

The proposed class-action suit, filed in 2024, argued that the company misled buyers by featuring jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, and other carved designs on wrappers while selling plain, featureless candies inside.

“Plaintiffs claim they bought chocolate products they thought included cool, carved designs but were disappointed when the products did not include those designs, and, therefore, in their view, were not so cool,” the very real complaint read.

Consumers Nathan Vidal and Eduardo Granados said they were “very disappointed” and wouldn’t have purchased the Halloween candies if they knew the designs weren’t real. The pair sought reimbursement for purchases ranging from $2.65 to $8, as well as $5 million in injunctive relief.

Hershey countered that the buyers got what they paid for: “delicious Reese’s candy.” The company also noted that the plaintiffs never claimed the products were inedible or unsafe.

Judges tosses lawsuit against Reese’s Halloween chocolates

On September 19, U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian sided with Hershey, writing that the plaintiffs failed to show any “concrete economic injury” from the missing confectionary details.

“Plaintiffs’ conclusory allegations as to why they have allegedly been deprived of the benefit of their bargain all boil down to their subjective, personal expectations of how the products would or should have looked when unpackaged,” the judge ruled.

However, the case may not be over. Attorney Anthony Russo, representing the consumers, told CBS News that his clients plan to amend the complaint.

“The court is merely saying that the plaintiffs did not expressly allege in the complaint that the products were worthless to them or that they paid a price premium,” Russo said. “We believe that companies should not be awarded with sales when they falsely represent the main characteristic of the product.”