Did These Famous Brands Change Their Recipe?

Curious if the famous brands like KFC, Oreo, Pepsi, Cadbury, Cheetos, Doritos, Pringles, Coke, Reese's, or Takis have changed their recipes? Let's find out!

11/30/20245 min read

Text: 'Did These Famous Brands Change Their Recipe?' with Coca-Cola, Reese's, Takis, Doritos, Pepsi, Cadbury, KFC, Cheetos, a
Text: 'Did These Famous Brands Change Their Recipe?' with Coca-Cola, Reese's, Takis, Doritos, Pepsi, Cadbury, KFC, Cheetos, a

Did They Changed Their Recipe?

We’ve all bitten into our favorite snack or sipped our go-to drink and thought, “This doesn’t taste the same!” Whether it’s nostalgia playing tricks on your taste buds or they actually changed the recipe, it’s a question many of us have asked. Let’s find out if some of the big brands have changed their secret formulas and why they might have.

Did Reese's Change Their Recipe?

Reese’s is known for its iconic peanut butter cups, and while the classic recipe hasn’t changed, the brand continues to innovate. Recent updates include:

  • Caramel Big Cup: A new one with caramel in the peanut butter filling.

  • Product Extensions: Reese’s Thins and Reese’s Organic for different tastes.

The original Reese’s hasn’t changed but the brand is expanding to meet changing tastes.

Did Takis Change Their Recipe?

Takis are famous for their spicy rolled tortilla chips and haven’t changed their core recipes for classics like Fuego. But they’ve added:

  • New Flavors: Buckin' Ranch and Churro Charge are recent additions, offering tangy and sweet options.

  • Expanded Lineup: These new variations aim to reach bigger audiences while not changing the original recipe.

Fans of Takis Fuego can rest easy knowing their favorite fiery snack remains unchanged.

Did KFC Change Their Recipe?

KFC has been famous for their fried chicken seasoned with a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices for years. Some fans have claimed KFC’s taste has changed. But did they really changed their recipe?

The short answer is no, the core recipe is still the same. But here are some other factors that might be affecting what you taste:

  • Ingredient Sourcing: KFC sources chicken and spices from different suppliers which may vary by location.

  • Cooking Methods: Updates to equipment and cooking techniques might change the flavor or texture.

  • Regional Preferences: To suit local tastes, recipes may be adjusted in different regions.

  • Health Trends: Like other fast-food brands, KFC has made efforts to reduce unhealthy fats and sodium in some offerings.

So, it’s not the recipe, it’s something else.

Did Oreo Change Their Recipe?

Ever felt like your Oreos taste a bit different than before? You’re not alone! While the classic Oreo recipe hasn’t drastically changed, there are several reasons you might notice a difference:

  • Ingredient Adjustments: Manufacturers occasionally tweak ingredient proportions to meet consumer demand or cost constraints.

  • Batch Variability: Oreos made in different factories or regions might have slight taste variations.

  • Packaging and Freshness: Improper storage can impact how fresh and tasty the cookies are.

  • Personal Preferences: Over time, your own taste buds evolve, making familiar snacks seem new.

In short, the Oreo you loved is still the same, but subtle differences in production might make it taste slightly off.

Did Pringles Change Their Recipe?

Over the years, many fans have felt that Pringles don’t taste quite the same as they used to. Here’s what people have noticed:

  • More Salty: Some flavors, like Original and Salt & Vinegar, seem a lot saltier than before.

  • Thinner Chips: The chips feel more fragile and break easily now, losing that satisfying crunch.

  • Uneven Flavor: The seasoning doesn’t seem evenly spread, making some chips super flavorful while others taste plain.

Pringles hasn’t confirmed any big changes, but these differences might be due to small tweaks in production or ingredients.

Logos of Coca-Cola, KFC, Reese's, Takis, Cheetos, Doritos, Cadbury, Oreo, and Pepsi on a pink background
Logos of Coca-Cola, KFC, Reese's, Takis, Cheetos, Doritos, Cadbury, Oreo, and Pepsi on a pink background

Did Doritos Change Their Recipe?

Doritos changed their recipe in the UK recently to meet government health guidelines. The new formula has:

  • Less Salt and Fat: 24% less salt and 15% less fat

  • More Corn: This means more crunch and flavour

  • Better Texture: They’re crunchier and more substantial so perfect for dips

Despite these changes, Doritos still aim to deliver the bold flavors fans love, like Tangy Cheese and Chilli Heatwave.

Did Cheetos Change Their Recipe?

Cheetos flavor is a hot topic among snackers. There’s no official word on a recipe change but here are some things that could be affecting the taste:

  • Ingredient Sourcing: Cheese and corn quality can change the flavor.

  • Production Methods: Frying or baking changes might be the culprit.

  • Consumer Preferences: Like other brands, Cheetos may be adapting to changing trends (less artificial stuff).

If you think your favorite cheesy snack tastes different it’s not your imagination, it’s small changes over time.

Did Cadbury Change Their Recipe?

Cadbury is a brand tied to nostalgia for many chocolate lovers, so any recipe change is big news. Recently, Cadbury made adjustments to its Dairy Milk bar recipe in the UK:

  • Cocoa Content: More cocoa solids for more flavour

  • Milk Type: Different type of milk

Fans were divided on the changes. Some liked the extra flavour, others missed the original smoothness. Note: Cadbury recipes can vary by region so these changes might not affect all countries.

Did Pepsi Change Their Recipe?

Pepsi have changed their recipe in some markets. The new formula has less sugar and a mix of sweeteners to keep the same Pepsi taste.

Here’s what’s changed:

  • Sugar Reduction: The new Pepsi contains 4.55 grams of sugar per 100ml.

  • Calorie Count: A standard 330ml can now has 59 calories.

  • Taste Profile: Pepsi worked hard to ensure the same taste despite the reduced sugar.

This is part of the trend of reducing sugar in popular drinks while keeping the flavour we love.

Did Coca-Cola Change Their Recipe?

One of the most famous recipe changes in history was New Coke in 1985. After the backlash, they went back to the original formula and called it Coca-Cola Classic.

While the original recipe has remained the same since, Coca Cola still tests new flavors and limited editions like Cherry Coke or Coca Cola Zero Sugar to appeal to the modern crowd.

Why Do Brands Change Recipes?

Here are a few reasons why companies change their formulas:

〰 Health Regulations: Governments are cracking down on sugar, salt and fat.

〰 Cost Management: Switching suppliers or ingredients can save costs.

〰 Consumer Demand: As tastes change, brands have to stay relevant.

〰 Globalization: Recipes may be altered slightly to meet the preferences of different markets.

Conclusion

Whether it’s KFC, Pepsi or Oreos, most brands haven’t changed their recipes much, but small changes can add up. Some changes are for health trends, others for changing tastes. In the end, our memories and taste buds also play a big role in how we perceive our favourite foods over time.

So next time you take a bite of your favourite snack and it feels “different”, think of all the things that could be at play!

FAQs

Why do my favorite snacks taste different?

Changes in ingredient sourcing, production methods or even packaging can affect flavour.

Has Pepsi permanently changed its recipe?

Yes, in some areas, Pepsi reduced sugar and added sweeteners to meet health guidelines.

Did Cadbury’s chocolate change globally?

No, the recent changes were only for the UK. Other areas may still use the original formula.

Why do brands introduce new flavors?

To keep up with changing consumer tastes and grow their market.