The Real Reason Butterfingers Don't Taste The Same Anymore - Mashed (2024)

The Real Reason Butterfingers Don't Taste The Same Anymore - Mashed (2)

The Real Reason Butterfingers Don't Taste The Same Anymore - Mashed (3)

The Real Reason Butterfingers Don't Taste The Same Anymore

The Real Reason Butterfingers Don't Taste The Same Anymore - Mashed (4)

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ByBen Fisher/May 5, 2020 1:07 pm EST

The Butterfinger that you know and love from childhood is no more. The flaky, crunchy candy bar was sold by Nestle in 2018 (via USA Today) and bought by Ferrara, an American subsidiary of the European candy maker The FerreroGroup (via Food Business News). Both The Ferrero Group and its American branch have impressive candy portfolios with Ferrara being responsible for Crunch, Baby Ruth, and Raisinets (via Ferrara USA), and its parent company across the ocean owning Kinder and Ferrero Rocher. Nestle actually sold its entire candy business to the tune of $2.8 billion and Ferrara wanted to quickly revamp some of its newly acquired brands (via Fortune).

The company began with Butterfinger and reworked the formula to use bigger peanuts, more milk and cocoa, and fewer hydrogenated oils. The new version also no longer incorporates the chemical preservative TBHQ. With these changes, they were shooting for a more chocolate-centric flavor with purer ingredients. The Food & Wine taste test was positive, calling it "less waxy" and "more cocoa forward." The new iteration of the candy bar is also double wrapped to preserve the freshness and flavor.

Negative feedback to the new Butterfinger taste

The Real Reason Butterfingers Don't Taste The Same Anymore - Mashed (5)

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It would stand to reason that these seemingly innocuous changes would be well received, but it turns out that not everyone is a fan of the new formula which was introduced at the beginning of last year, along with a new label. Former Butterfinger lovers were immensely disappointed in the change and decried the new version of their beloved candy as being "nasty" and that the new recipe was "trash" (via Business Insider).

According to the company, though, the change in formula may have saved the brand. Before the change, Butterfinger was experiencing declines in sales and losing customers, but after the new formula was introduced, sales "experienced periods of growth" and a wider audience was enjoying the brand. Of course, much of these improved sales were likely due to the hype of a new product and it will remain to be seen whether they hold up over time.

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The Real Reason Butterfingers Don't Taste The Same Anymore - Mashed (2024)

FAQs

The Real Reason Butterfingers Don't Taste The Same Anymore - Mashed? ›

Food - News

Why do butterfingers taste bad now? ›

The company began with Butterfinger and reworked the formula to use bigger peanuts, more milk and cocoa, and fewer hydrogenated oils. The new version also no longer incorporates the chemical preservative TBHQ.

When did Butterfinger change their formula? ›

Recipe change

Ferrero reformulated the Butterfinger in January 2019, with labels displaying "Improved Recipe".

What is the original Butterfinger? ›

The Butterfinger candy bar has a fascinating history that spans over nine decades. It was created by the Curtiss Candy Company in Chicago, Illinois, in 1923. Originally known as "Curtiss Candy Company's Chocolate Butterfinger," it featured a crispy peanut butter-flavored core covered in chocolate.

What flavor is the inside of a Butterfinger? ›

Butterfinger candy bars has been around since the 1920's. These candy bars have a crispy, peanut butter layer that is covered in chocolate. The crunchy orange filling is made by combining a cooked hard candy with peanut butter.

Why does candy taste different now? ›

Many candies, especially those that have been around for decades, are susceptible to undergoing a formula change that could slightly alter the flavor.

Why doesn t candy taste as good anymore? ›

As we get older, eating and drinking new things trains our palate, steering it in new directions (you like kale now?! And dark chocolate!) —which often leaves the sugary predilections of childhood behind. But it's also a sad fact that as we get older, our taste buds stop regenerating, which dulls the palate.

Why is Butterfinger discontinued? ›

Butterfinger BB's may have been discontinued because the chocolate coating tended to melt too quickly. Parent company Nestle released a similar product called Butterfinger Bites in 2009, which were well received and are still available for purchase through retailers like Walmart and Amazon.

What is the oldest candy bar? ›

The Chocolate Cream bar created by Joseph Fry in 1866 is the oldest candy bar in the world. Although Fry was the first to start pressing chocolate into bar molds in 1847, the Chocolate Cream was the first mass-produced and widely available candy bar.

Does Butterfinger have real chocolate? ›

Gives a new light to the catchphrase, “Don't lay a finger on my Butterfinger!” The final process is a no-brainer for something coming out of the Nestle factory…a milk chocolate coating! The perfectly sized logs of crispity crunchity filling go through a rippling waterfall of melted nestle chocolate.

Why is it called a Butterfinger? ›

His Curtiss Candy Company, based in Chicago, ran a contest to name the bar. At the time sportscasters began using the term “butterfingers” to describe players who couldn't hold onto the ball. A Chicago man who described himself as a klutz submitted the name “Butterfinger” for the bar and it was a winner.

Why does Butterfinger taste so good? ›

"The Ferraro philosophy is that quality always wins." Those higher quality ingredients include U.S.-grown jumbo peanuts which, according to Mandel, allow for a more "uniform and well-rounded roast." The cocoa in the chocolate-y (not technically full-on "chocolate") coating has been upgraded as has the amount of milk in ...

What's the difference between Clark and Butterfinger? ›

Butterfinger Candy Bar

The main difference between this candy bar and the Clark Bar (aside from the candy-laced center) are the ingredients and texture. Nestle, the company responsible for Butterfinger, does not use all natural products in their candy and this is apparent in the orange colored peanut butter center.

Is a chick o stick the inside of a Butterfinger? ›

Atkinson Candy Company's Chick-O-Sticks are crunchy and have the same flaky texture of the inside of a Butterfinger candy bar, with a hint of coconut added into the mix. Chick-O-Stick are widely distributed at convenience stores, candy shops, and you can also find them online at Amazon.

What candy is similar to Butterfinger? ›

Clark Bars are similar to Butterfingers, because they are both milk chocolate peanut butter bars, but Clark Bars are like Butterfingers' better tasting, classier cousin.

What is the flaky stuff in a Butterfinger? ›

These peanuts are ground into a creamy peanut butter, the base for the Butterfinger filling. But creamy doesn't quite sound the “crispity crunchity”, does it? In order to get that rich flakiness, the recipe calls for the addition of… corn flakes!

What did Bart Simpson say about Butterfinger? ›

Each commercial in Butterfinger Ice Cream Nuggets begins with the announcer saying - "And try new Butterfinger Ice Cream Nuggets" (except the "Maggie's Party" commercial which ended with Bart saying the candy's tagline - "Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger!").

How bad are Butterfingers for your teeth? ›

Pay close attention to these problem-causing treats:

Taffy and caramel candies, these are hard on your teeth and can increase decay. Crunchy bars, such as Butterfinger bars that have hard centers. Hard candies, such as sour candies with high acid levels that can hurt your teeth and break down enamel.

What happened to Butterfinger Easter eggs? ›

A MAJOR candy maker has confirmed that it's discontinuing a popular treat. Butterfinger confirmed that it discontinued its much-loved Nest Eggs product. Consumers took to Twitter after noticing the chocolate eggs were absent from store shelves.

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