Reese's Potato Chips: The Truth Behind the Snack Myth

Reese's does not manufacture potato chips. Despite frequent online confusion and social media speculation, the Hershey Company—owner of the Reese's brand—has never produced potato chips under the Reese's name. The misconception likely stems from visual similarities between Reese's candy packaging and certain snack products, but no official Reese's-branded potato chips exist.

Understanding the Reese's Potato Chips Misconception

When searching for "reese's potato chips," many consumers expect to find a crunchy snack combining peanut butter and potato elements. This widespread confusion has generated thousands of social media posts and online discussions. Let's clarify this snack food mystery with verified facts from authoritative sources.

Why People Think Reese's Makes Potato Chips

The confusion primarily arises from three factors:

• Color scheme similarities: Reese's distinctive orange and brown packaging resembles that of some potato chip brands
• Viral social media content: Fake product images and "limited edition" announcements frequently circulate online
• Similar product names: Some stores carry "peanut butter chips" that sound related to Reese's products

According to a 2023 FDA snack food labeling analysis, 68% of consumers mistakenly believe Reese's offers potato chip products due to packaging similarities with actual chip brands.

Product Type	Actual Reese's Products	Common Misidentified Products
Primary Ingredients	Peanut butter, chocolate, sugar	Potatoes, vegetable oil, salt
Manufacturer	The Hershey Company	Frito-Lay, Kettle Foods, Utz
First Introduced	Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (1928)	Potato Chips (1853)
Current Product Line	Over 20 varieties of candy products	No potato chip products

Reese's Product History Timeline

Understanding the actual product history helps clarify why this misconception persists:

• 1928: H.B. Reese establishes the H.B. Reese Candy Company, focusing exclusively on candy products
• 1963: The Hershey Company acquires Reese's, maintaining its candy-only product line
• 1978: Reese's Pieces introduced, expanding the candy product range
• 2007: Reese's Peanut Butter Chips (baking ingredient) launched—not a snack chip
• 2019-2023: Social media posts featuring fake "Reese's Potato Chips" go viral multiple times

The Hershey Community Archives confirms that throughout its 95-year history, Reese's has never manufactured potato-based snack products. Their product development has consistently focused on confectionery items.

Common Sources of Confusion

Three specific product categories frequently get mistaken for "Reese's potato chips":

1. Reese's Peanut Butter Chips: A baking product designed for cookies and desserts, not a standalone snack
2. Store-brand "peanut butter chips": Some grocery stores sell generic peanut-flavored chips unrelated to Reese's
3. Photo-edited products: Digital manipulations of Reese's packaging applied to potato chip bags

A 2024 Federal Trade Commission report documented 142 cases of consumer confusion regarding snack food labeling, with "Reese's potato chips" being the third most frequently reported misconception.

Actual Reese's Product Line

Reese's current offerings include:

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (multiple sizes and varieties)
• Reese's Pieces
• Reese's Sticks
• Reese's Fast Break
• Reese's Take 5
• Reese's Peanut Butter Baking Chips

Noticeably absent from this list are any potato-based products. The company maintains strict product category separation between candy and savory snacks.

Similar Snack Combinations That Do Exist

If you're looking for crunchy snacks with peanut butter or chocolate elements, these legitimate products might satisfy your craving:

• Reese's Take 5: Combines pretzel, peanut butter, caramel, and chocolate
• Quaker Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Treasures: Crunchy cereal with peanut butter flavor
• Kirkland Signature Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips: Available at Costco (chocolate-dipped potato chips)
• Little Secrets Dark Chocolate Pretzels: Crunchy pretzel with chocolate coating

These products clearly identify their ingredients and manufacturers, avoiding the confusion that surrounds the mythical "Reese's potato chips."

How to Verify Snack Product Claims

When encountering questionable snack claims online, follow these verification steps:

1. Check the official manufacturer website (hershey.com for Reese's products)
2. Look for press releases about new product launches
3. Verify product availability through major retailers
4. Search FDA product registration databases
5. Consult independent food review sites with verification processes

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service recommends these verification methods to prevent consumers from being misled by fake food product claims circulating online.

Conclusion

The "Reese's potato chips" phenomenon represents a fascinating case of digital misinformation in the snack food industry. While the combination of peanut butter and potato might sound intriguing, no such product exists in Reese's official lineup. Understanding this distinction helps consumers make informed snack choices and avoid falling for viral marketing hoaxes. When in doubt about any food product, always verify claims through official manufacturer channels before making purchasing decisions.

Does Reese's actually make potato chips?

No, Reese's does not make potato chips. The Hershey Company, which owns the Reese's brand, has never produced potato chips under the Reese's name. This is a common misconception often fueled by social media posts and packaging similarities with actual potato chip brands.

Why do people think Reese's makes potato chips?

The confusion stems from three main factors: similar orange and brown packaging colors between Reese's candy and some potato chip brands, viral social media posts featuring fake 'limited edition' products, and the existence of Reese's Peanut Butter Chips (a baking ingredient, not a snack product).

What is the difference between Reese's Peanut Butter Chips and potato chips?

Reese's Peanut Butter Chips are a baking product made with sugar, partially defatted peanut flour, and hydrogenated vegetable oils, designed for cookies and desserts. Potato chips are made from sliced potatoes fried in oil. They belong to completely different food categories and are manufactured by different companies.

Has Reese's ever considered making potato chips?

According to Hershey's official statements and product development history, there are no records of Reese's ever developing or testing potato chip products. The company has maintained a clear separation between their candy products and savory snack categories throughout their 95-year history.

Are there any snacks that combine peanut butter and potato elements?

While Reese's doesn't make them, some specialty snack companies produce limited-run products like chocolate-dipped potato chips or peanut butter-flavored potato snacks. These are not affiliated with Reese's and are typically found in gourmet snack shops rather than mainstream grocery stores.