The New Hershey's Chocolate Syrup Is GMO-Free And Only Has 5 Ingredients

This month, Hershey's is introducing a new formulation for its classic chocolate syrup that contains just five ingredients: cane sugar, organic cane syrup, water, cocoa, and natural vanilla flavor.

The new formula is a nod to the power of the growing consumer demand for more natural ingredients in processed foods, and a greater degree of transparency in the manufacturing process. "People are looking for products that taste great and have ingredients that they recognize," Kriston Ohm, senior brand manager for Hershey's syrups and toppings, said in a statement.

Aside from a shorter ingredient list than the classic syrup — which contains 11 ingredients including artificial vanilla flavor and potassium sorbate, a preservative — the new "Simply 5" syrup is free of high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and preservatives, and genetically modified ingredients.

Since early 2015, the Hershey Company has been vocal about its transitioning toward GMO-free and natural ingredients in its chocolate products, striving for "simplicity and transparency."

"We will strive for simplicity with all of our ingredients, but we may not achieve it with every product," Jeff Beckman, a representative with Hershey, said at the time. "We are equally committed to sharing what we achieve and what we don't. For ingredients that are not as simple, we will explain what they are and why we need them to provide the great flavors, aromas, textures, and appearances that our consumers know and expect from our products. Our commitment to simple ingredients is a holistic approach across all of our ingredients and not a specific ingredient."