With Halloween weeks away, a federal judge has ended a lawsuit that accused Hershey of misleading buyers about the appearance of its seasonal Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins. Two Florida men claimed the candies arrived without the carved faces shown on the packaging and that they paid extra for the decorative feature. U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian rejected the proposed class action, ruling that the buyers suffered no measurable financial harm. ([1])
What the Plaintiffs Claimed
Nathan Vidal and Eduardo Granados said they bought the pumpkins specifically because the wrappers showed a jack-o’-lantern design complete with eyes and mouth. They argued the missing features left them with ordinary candy instead of the festive treat they expected. The men filed their case in 2024 and tried to expand it into a class action on behalf of other buyers who felt similarly shortchanged.
The complaint centered on the idea that the packaging created an expectation of a decorated product. Without the face, the plaintiffs said, the candy was worth less than advertised. They pointed to prices at other retailers to argue they had overpaid at Publix.
Why the Court Rejected the Case
Judge Damian concluded that the buyers received exactly the type and quantity of Reese’s product they purchased. The ruling described the disappointment as subjective rather than a concrete economic loss. The judge noted that the packaging itself carried a clear label describing the jack-o’-lantern image as a “DECORATING SUGGESTION.”
Hershey maintained that customers got the candy they wanted. The company pointed out that the product delivered the promised peanut butter and chocolate in the familiar pumpkin shape. Attempts to prove a price premium using prices from Walmart, Target, and the Hershey website did not persuade the court.
Earlier Legal Steps and Similar Disputes
The case had already faced one dismissal. Judge Damian threw out an earlier version of the complaint in September 2025 but gave the plaintiffs a chance to revise their claims. The latest ruling ends the matter at the district court level for now.
Hershey has dealt with comparable complaints about other seasonal shapes. Ghost-shaped candies and football-shaped treats have drawn objections when facial features or laces shown on wrappers did not appear on the actual products. Those disputes followed a similar pattern of buyers expecting more decoration than the candy provided.
What Happens Next
An attorney for the plaintiffs told reporters they intend to appeal the decision. The appeal would move the case to a higher court for further review. For now, the ruling means consumers can continue to buy the faceless pumpkins without the threat of further litigation over their appearance.
The outcome underscores how difficult it can be to turn packaging expectations into a successful lawsuit when the core product matches the description. Shoppers looking for carved faces on their Reese’s this fall will have to add them themselves or accept the plain version that has long been sold.
AI Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by a human editor.