Unwrapping claim about popular candy brands using lab-grown chocolate

A rumor circulated in October that some popular chocolate brands have switched to using lab-grown chocolate, also referred to as cell-based chocolate or cultured chocolate. The rumor stems from information published by a variety of unreliable outlets that cite no sources, such as investment firms giving advice on investing in lab-grown cocoa, holistic food blogs or alternative lifestyle blogs. Snopes bases its ratings on direct and verifiable primary evidence. In the absence of such evidence in this instance, we've left this claim unrated. Most of the companies named in examples of the claim have denied using lab-grown cocoa in current products. One has admitted to investing in the research of lab-grown cocoa but not actively using it in products. Another has a product with a sunflower-seed-based cocoa alternative that is different from cultured chocolate. Two of the companies have not responded as of this writing. Ahead of the candy-fueled Halloween season in October, a rumor spread that some popular chocolate brands have switched to using lab-grown chocolate, also referred to as cell-based chocolate or cultured chocolate. Cell-based chocolate has been billed as a possible sustainability solution for harvesting cocoa, an industry faced with supply, environmental and labor issues. Essentially, the goal of cell-based chocolate is to create an environmentally and ethically sustainable alternative to farming cocoa beans, the fermented seed of the cacao tree that is the basis of making chocolate. Critics of such technology claim some of the leading chocolate brands are "quietly pulling off a massive corporate bait-and-switch ... to flood retail shelves with lab-grown chocolate alternatives." One popular social media video asserts that specific brands are "spending billions of dollars into biotech startups that are making the switch from real cocoa to lab-grown," including: Kinder (a brand of Ferrero) Lindt & Sprüngli Snickers & M&Ms (brands of Mars) Kit Kat (a brand of Nestlé) Hershey Cadbury (a brand of Hershey) The rumor appears to stem from a variety of unreliable outlets — such as investment firms giving advice on investing in lab-grown cocoa, holistic food blogs or alternative lifestyle blogs — the latter of which claims "climate change is a hoax" and therefore people should not "let corporations replace real chocolate with lab experiments." Crucially, none of these outlets provide sources when making iterations of this claim. We reached out to each outlet, asking for any evidence they have to support their claims and if they would share their sources. We will update this article if we receive responses. As Snopes bases its ratings on direct and verifiable evidence, we have left this claim unrated. It is important to note that most of the companies named in examples of the claim have denied using lab-grown cocoa, while one admitted to investing in researching lab-grown cocoa but not actively using it in products. Two have not responded as of this writing. The Hershey Company and Cadbury A Hershey spokesperson said via email, "Hershey has no active research and development or product commercialization work on cocoa substitutes, such as lab-grown cocoa or alternatives, underway or planned in the future." Hershey's FAQ section on its ingredients webpage directly addresses the question of using lab-grown chocolate, using identical language to the above statement. The company's sustainability webpage says it made a $500 million investment in Cocoa For Good, a strategy aiming to "improve farmer livelihoods, support children's well-being [and] protect the environments in which cocoa grows." The company also notes the struggles within the cocoa industry, such as child labor, and points to Cocoa for Good as a way of "contributing to a cocoa supply chain where farmers and their families can prosper." Further, Hershey's website notes that it has produced the Cadbury brand in the U.S. since 1988. In February 2026, a descendent of the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, a brand Hershey's now owns, reportedly accused the company of cutting corners and using inferior ingredients, but did not mention lab-grown chocolate. Nestlé and Kit Kat A Nestlé spokesperson said via email, "We are not developing lab-grown chocolate."' They added, "While we keep an eye on emerging technologies and ingredient innovations, our primary focus remains on cocoa. It is at the heart of our confectionery business and will continue to be the core ingredient in our chocolate portfolio." Nestlé's corporate website highlights The Nestlé Cocoa Plan, an initiative launched in 2009 and billed as an effort to help its farmers and improve the quality of ingredients. The spokesperson focused on those efforts in their email: Our research efforts concentrate on strengthening the resilience and sustainability of cocoa production, including supporting the development of climate-resilient cocoa varieties. At the same time, we remain strongly committed to supporting cocoa-farming communities through initiatives such as the Nestlé Cocoa Plan and our Nestlé Income Accelerator Program, which aim to improve farmer livelihoods and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the cocoa supply chain (for example through cash incentives, training or agroforestry support that promote good farming practices and help reach higher crop productivity). In 2025, the company announced that its research and development division had devised a "novel technique that uses up to 30% more of the cocoa fruit." Nestlé does produce a product in Europe called Choco Crossies that is made with ChoViva, a chocolate alternative made from sunflower seeds — a different process to cultured chocolate — that German company Planet A Foods produces. Planet A Foods describes ChoViva as a "cocoa-free chocolate alternative [proving] that chocolatey indulgence doesn't have to depend on cocoa: it can be produced at scale from an independent supply chain." Lindt & Sprüngli Best known for its Lindt brand of chocolates, as well as owning the Russell Stover and Ghirardelli brands, a Lindt & Sprüngli spokesperson said via email that claims the company is "using 'lab‑grown' or 'artificial' cocoa in its products are not correct." They added: "All Lindt chocolates available on the market today are made with cocoa beans sourced in the traditional way. All ingredients are clearly labeled on the packaging." The company's sustainability webpage, like Hershey's and Nestlé's, cites similar issues in the cocoa industry, including child labor practices and forest conservation. However, the Lindt & Sprüngli spokesperson said the company "continuously explores innovation in cocoa cultivation and chocolate production as part of its long‑term commitment to quality and sustainability," and, as a result, "made an investment in Food Brewer, a Swiss company researching cocoa ingredients based on natural cocoa plant cell cultures. " The company added: "This collaboration is research‑focused and at an early stage ... Lindt & Sprüngli remains fully committed to exceptional quality and taste. Traditional chocolate made from natural cocoa beans will always remain at the heart of our portfolio." Food Brewer posted about Lindt & Sprüngli's investment via LinkedIn, saying, "The profound knowledge of this global chocolate player will help us in accelerating our go-to-market strategy and further develop our delicious cocoa products." Other brands in the claim Snopes contacted Mars (which operates the Snickers and M&M's brands) and Ferrero (which operates the Kinder brand) but we had not received responses prior to publication. Both companies have sustainability webpages similar to the other companies mentioned in the claim. Ferrero's says its goals involve "protecting the environment and sourcing ingredients sustainably," as well as "promoting responsible consumption and empowering people." For its part, Mars describes its sustainability program as "transforming the way we work – from how we source raw materials like palm oil and cocoa, to how we fish the oceans for our pet food ingredients – to ensure every part of our operations and extended supply chains help people and the planet thrive." We will update this article if we receive further comment from Mars, Ferrero, or the outlets who reported their alleged investments.