ALMOND JOY >> NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE

RAPID REVIEW

Information updated October 2024

Once upon a time, Almond Joy candy bar with nine ingredients was created by Peter Paul and it was advertised along with Mounds as “No Finer, Fresher Candy in All The World!” and a “Masterpiece In Candy”. (Source: Historical Peter Paul Print Advertisement)

Today, Almond Joy is owned by The Hershey Company and contains two ingredients banned at Whole Foods who cites them as “Unacceptable in food”. (Sources: Hersheyland Web site 10/24; Amazon Whole Foods Web site 10/24)

Almonds were once the first ingredient in Almond Joy (hence, the name).

Now, Corn Syrup is the first ingredient in Almond Joy and Almonds are the fifth.

COMPARISON: Almond Joy vs. OCHO Coconut >> the OCHO Coconut Minis (below right) are Closest To Homemade® >> these are individually-wrapped minis of Organic Dark Chocolate with an Organic & Fair Trade and certified Vegan Coconut filling. (Source: OCHO Candy Web site 10/24) There’s no Almond inside, but you may not even notice!

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE: Following are some Dark Chocolate Coconut Candies with no added Flavors, Colors, Chemical Preservatives, PGPR or TBHQ. These include Organic Taza Chocolate Coconut which is Direct Trade, Non-GMO Project and Kosher certified; Non-GMO Project verified and Kosher certified Organic OCHO Coconut which is certified Gluten-Free with Fair Trade certified ingredients; Non-GMO Project verified UNREAL bars which are certified Vegan with Fair Trade certified ingredients, and Organic Theo Coconut 70% Dark Chocolate with ingredients certified Fair for Life. (Sources: Brand Web sites 10/24)

*Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list*

Here is an excerpt from The Hershey Company Vision and Strategy page on their Web site 10/24 which notes the company’s passion is fueled by “helping to create meaningful moments in people’s lives”.

Part of the above states: “A grandfather showing his granddaughter how to use a HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bar to make s’mores over a campfire” . . . but — just like Almond Joy — a Hershey’s bar today is not what any grandfather enjoyed as a child:

hershey's chocolate bar then vs. NOW

See what’s in Hershey’s Syrup Then vs. Now >> remember when it used to come in a can? Hershey’s Syrup once had five ingredients and now it has 12 including three which are banned at Whole Foods such as High Fructose Corn Syrup:

HERSHEY'S SYRUP THEN VS. NOW

See more products Then vs. Now and discover how most of the #1 U.S. Brands have changed their ingredients:

#1 U.S Brands Changing Ingredients

Discover food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.

Closest To Homemade® Master List

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