My 8 year old has declared war. Okay, maybe that’s a little strong. What he said was, “Caleb, are you in or out? We have got to save the world! I could use your help. Hershey can’t get away with this. They are ruining the world for our grandchildren!” Yep! That’s really what he said.
Here’s the background … last November we visited the Hershey Factory in Hershey, PA. It was wonderful and smelled amazing! Ben was in Hershey Heaven as he is a huge fan of all things chocolate. When the kids are especially cooperative at the grocery store, I often reward them with their choice of a check-out-lane/lane-where-mom-caves treat. Ben nearly always chooses a plain Hershey bar … king size if he can get away with it.
Last week, Ben and I were horrified to see a story on the Today show that spoiled our entire day. (The women at my last retreat even heard me lament about it!) Apparently, due to higher cost of ingredients, Hershey’s is removing cocoa butter from many of it’s popular chocolate candies, and replacing it with cheaper vegetable oil. (I overheard Ben on the phone with his 8-year-old buddy, Drew. Ben was telling him all about this nightmare and how “vegetable oil” makes his tummy sick if he eats too much of it in candy bars! Ha!)
Check it out next time you’re in the store. The package labels are changing too, because the FDA says anything containing vegetable oils cannot be called “Milk Chocolate”. Now the packages say “chocolaty” or “chocolate candy.” Now, don’t completely freak out. The Hershey bar and Hershey Kisses have not been contaminated by the addition of vegetable oil in lieu of cocoa butter … yet. However, the other candy bars made by the Hershey company have made the switch.
Watch the Today Show / MSNBC video here.
I suggested that Ben write a letter to the Hershey factory. I mean, really, how can you refuse a cute little kid who is concerned that his grandchildren will never know how amazing a Hershey bar tastes? However, he is vehemently opposed to writing letters. As his teacher, I can attest to the fact that he is opposed to writing anything! Right now he is focused on superhero, world-saving tricks. I think I heard him say something about building something out of Legos to help him fight Hershey.
All I can say is, “Hershey, watch out! There is one mean-Lego-building-eight-year-old-superhero-wannabe in Rochester, MN, who intends to take you on. Put back the cocoa butter and no one gets Lego-ed!”
Addendum: If you want to join our letter writing campaign, please send me your letters via email or send a comment with your email and we’ll send you a mailing address off-line.
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I’m with BEN!! He’s my HERO!!!! I, too, pick Hershey bars for my treat – and just last week bought a whole six pack! (I only at 3 of them, so … Tim ate the others.)
Why don’t we help Ben write a petition to get signed by gobs of us? I’m willing to help him! I visited Hershey a few years ago, and I too want my grandchildren to know the REAL taste of chocolate. (Of course, my grandchilden will probably arrive before Ben’s children do, but, still…)
I’ve traveled many places, and have tried chocolates from all over the world – “gourmet” chocolates that cost a fortune. NOTHING tastes better than good ol’ Hersheys.
Tell Ben we’re behind him all the way!
I’m in. Let Ben know that the pen can be a mighty sword…especially when in the hands of a super hero like him and a few of us Hershey lovin’ women. Tell Ben if he writes his letter…I’ll write mine and we can send them and maybe a bunch of others together…with his blazing the way stapled or clipped on the top!
You guys are the best! Okay, send your letters to my house. Handwritten might make a bigger statement. I’ll have Ben (and the rest of our crew) write letters to put on top. Then I’ll get Ben’s permission to post his letter here for you all to see. Who else will join Ben, Tracy, Joy, the rest of the Chocolate cruisaders?
Vicki
We’re in, Ben! We have to write a letter tomorrow for school anyhow, so instead of a friendly letter to family, it’s going to be a “friendly” letter to Hershey… good going!!
Emma
I’m with you Ben! I live 20 minutes from Hershey and guess what? It doesn’t even smell like chocolate in “Chocolate Town.” You know what else? They’re sending the chocolate to Mexico to be made; 1500 people lost their jobs last year! Not only is it NOT real chocolate; most of it isn’t even made in Hershey. I’m thankful that Milton Hershey isn’t alive to see all the things that are happening. Thankfully, however, the Milton S. Hershey School is flourishing. It’s really his greatest legacy and the ONE thing that the world can’t touch.
Wishing for sweeter days ahead!
Hi Ben,
Count me in too! You know it always hurts your heart worse when Grandma scolds so let me at them. What a great champion of REAL chocolate you are! My letter will be in the mail to you soon.
Love you, Gram
I’m shocked. Hershey’s is my favorite American chocolate. I hesitate to eat anything else because it’s just not as good. So I’m going to email you a letter for you to forward on.
This is a good cause. Thanks for taking it on!
Karri
That’s just a crime 🙂 Seriously…what are they thinking? I hope Ben’s project succeeds!
Becky
It is so great to see kids get motivated about a cause – and chocolate is a great cause!
ANother thing to think about -i wonder does Hershey follow a fair trade agreement concerning choco. Cocoa Beans= slavery.
google it there is loads of information out there concerning the slaves used for cocoa.
good for your little son, getting our kids involved it important to the universe.
Ang
Oh I do not blame young Ben one bit!f Vegetable oil in chocolate? GROSS. Ben doesn’t like writing letters, how about making videos? Maybe he could make a video protest. He certainly has picked up on the phone campaign. Tell Ben, that I will be writing for sure, and I am pretty sure that I can persuade my 13 year old too. 🙂
That is terrible that they are thinking about doing that. Way to go Ben for sticking up for quality!
I am so impressed that an 8 year-old boy would be so passionate about his cause – and be paying attention to a news program enough to know that his beloved chocolate was being altered! And kudos to you as his teacher, to use this opportunity to get him to write! 🙂 My mom did the same thing w/us as kids (pick out candy bar in the checkout aisle), and mine was usually a Hershey’s with Almonds.
Go Ben go! That just makes me sad (not Ben – the replacement of cocoa butter with vegetable oil 🙁 -boo Hershey!).
I have never heard of that! That’s crazy, but very funny what your boy said! My mom has been to the factory before. She liked the hershey kiss street lights!!
That is bad to cut an importnat ingredient. Go Ben!!
I love Herseys, but wonder if it will taste differently.
And I found out at a different blog – do not ask after I have just looked at over 1000 blogs in 2 days. – Anyway, it seems to keep prices down, most of the main commercial chocolate markers are buying cocoa from child labor suppliers. So I am now going Fair trade chocolate.
Quality keeps losing out to profits. Don’t they think people will notice that the bar doesn’t taste as good? That might affect the bottom line too, mightn’t it?
dlcwin[at]gmail[dot]com
Maybe he can start a petition (with your help) on one of those online petition sites. It’s super easy to do and can quickly get a lot of support from all over the world. I sign a lot of petitions online myself and have actually seen good results come from it. Good luck~
Too funny! And I had no idea that they were doing this. I’m outraged!
I would love to visit the Hershey Factory. Just hearing about it makes me want chocolate NOW. 😉
As a former teacher, I am glad to see Ben enthusiastic about this project. If it encourages him to write, it is a good thing!
castings[at]mindspring[dot]com
snark snark. I find that deplorable! I can’t believe that Hershey would be caving in like that. What has brought them to the place where they are is US. Your little boy.
That’s funny; the vegetable oil makes him ill.
I live right near Hershey! It’s beautiful :), isn’t it?
Talk about where I live.
Awesome! I think teaching kids to be aware and proactive is a great thing to do. We are always reading labels and staying away from products that have less than quality ingredients!
Thank you for the very generous giveaway!
foxsquirrelrabbit(at)gmail(dot)com
I seen that story as well and was dismayed at what they had done. Those sneaky mean execs out to save a few pennies. I love how he thought Hershey’s was ruiung it for his grandchildren. That is just too precious. I also think it is great that he wants to take a proactive approach at such a young age. Way to go Ben!
I totally missed this in the news! That’s really sad that after so many years they are cutting corners for costs.
I wish you luck with your mission! Maybe letters from children will help make an impact. It’s nice to see an 8 year old passionate about a cause they believe in. I know many 8 year olds who wouldn’t think twice about the switch or care.
I was appalled awhile back to notice that KFC now offers “honey sauce” for their biscuits, rather than honey. “Honey sauce” is nothing more than glorified corn syrup! What a scam!
I think your son is too cute – advances in flavoring and all of the unnatural chemical additives that can improve texture really don’t make up for the real thing, do they?
That really is disappointing. I would imagine that they will taste different besides being worse for you.
Vegetable oil!! Oh no!!! That will ruin everything about a Hershey’s bar! I think a formal protest is in order!
shoreview3(at)hotmail(dot)com
I’m right there with Ben! Don’t mess with my chocolate! Seriously, though, it disgusts me how adulterated most of our food is lately.
Good for Ben. I was horried to see that story. Because of it I don’t plan on buying anymore of their chocolate. Maybe if their sales start to drop they will wake up and realize that reducing quality will not make them more money.
That makes me sad as I always had a good impression of Hersheys. I agree with Ben and Hersheys needs to stop this. Good for Ben!
I’m with Ben, and glad he’s a crusader. I’m sorry, without the cocoa butter it’s not really chocolate as far as I’m concerned. Shame on Hershey’s. Me personally, I’ll pay more for the good stuff, and if Hershey’s is no longer good stuff, they just lost my money.
I love Hershey’s i would rather pay a few cent more for them just to leave things the way they are yummy.
I heard about this too. I just can’t imagine that it is going to taste the same. I wonder if they get enough backlash from consumers if they will change their mind….
I missed that, I can’t believe they are doing that. I have to admit, I sometimes will crave Hershey’s plain bar over the more expansive brands. How annoying that they are changing it, ugh!
That’s one smart little boy you have there! I heard about this myself and agree, don’t mess with my chocolate! Thanks!
braaisjo at gmail dot com
I think this is fantastic that he’s getting involved. What a wonderful learning/teaching opportunity for you…grab him while he’s interested and pump as much learning in as you can!