Valentine’s Day and Easter are right around the corner, and many people will be celebrating their love for each other and the bunny that comes and hides little eggs full of joy — Cadbury Chocolate Eggs, that is. But this year, candy buyers in the United States are sure to be disappointed, for these popular chocolates will no longer be sold in the U.S.

The authentic British company that imports these candies into the U.S. is being sued by none other than Hershey’s Chocolate. Hershey alleges that the recipe of the Cadbury chocolate is too similar to their own formula. Hershey also stated that the company, LBB Imports, violated basic trademark rights when it imported and sold British Cadbury products in America.

Hershey has the rights to manufacture and sell chocolate in America under Cadbury’s label, but they claim that they have exclusive privilege to produce crème eggs in the U.S. This means that the British version would be banned. Unfortunately for some consumers, many believe that the Hershey eggs do not compare to the British version of this treat.

When told that one of her favorite Easter treats would be discontinued, sophomore Amanda Ross responded, “I think Hershey’s chocolate is very different from Cadbury’s, and if this lawsuit is carried out, I will be very upset that I will not be able to eat those crème eggs for Easter.”

These popular candies, although having originated in Britain, are very popular with American consumers (Photo courtesy of adweek.com).

Although Hershey insists that the chocolates taste similar, residents of the U.K. and the U.S. believe differently. Many consumers stated that Cadbury’s chocolate starts their recipe by adding whole milk first, while Hershey’s adds sugar first to their recipe, thereby altering the taste of the chocolate.

Along with the candy eggs, Britain’s own Kit Kats, Toffee crisps and Yorkie chocolate bars will also be discontinued in the U.S. and are not permitted to be imported under any circumstance.

Another fault in Cadbury’s products, according to Hershey, is the packaging of the candies, which is very similar to some of Hershey’s wrappers. The wrapping of Cadbury’s Yorkie candy bars is very similar to the wrapping of Hershey’s York Peppermint Patties with silver wrapping and comparable colors.

There are many arguments being made about this controversy. Some agree with Hershey’s decision on the issue because it is within the rights of the company to protect its brand, yet others believe that Hershey is crossing the line.

According to sophomore Delaney Olds, “Hershey should not be suing Cadbury because they are already very popular and many people currently love their chocolate. I also do not want to have to travel all the way to Europe in order to get my favorite chocolate.”

Some consumers have started petitions to alert Hershey that their vehement opposition to the popular British treats is not constructive. Along with these petitions, others are sending messages to Hershey, stating that they enjoy the Cadbury candy and will be greatly displeased if they are no longer permitted to do so.

This lawsuit will likely affect many locally owned stores across the country. Some stores relied heavily on revenue generated from the sale of Cadbury and other British-made candies. According to Western Pennsylvania’s TribLive News, once store owners learned of the events that were transpiring, they took action very quickly by stocking up on these candies in order to keep their stores in business.

These treats will slowly leave the shelves of most department stores and will soon no longer exist in the U.S. Easter and Valentine’s Day will not be the same for some, but the idea of celebration for these holidays will still be cherished throughout the years.