There was once a time when buying off-branded food was as desirable as walking around with an imitation handbag. However, today, private label groceries aren’t necessarily any less nutritious or less tasty than the products we have come to know and love thanks to advertising.
As stores have begun to roll out their own labels, including organic and gourmet options, shoppers have started to take notice. In fact, according to a recent report, 81% of people are now making private label purchases on every single supermarket trip, and sales of store brands rose eight times as much as national ones in the same year. However, are they always a bargain? Below are eight foods that you should never buy generic.
There are so many branded yogurts on the market that choosing one can be quite difficult. As a result, shoppers will usually gravitate toward whatever yogurt has the texture and flavor that they prefer the most. Generic brands tend to sneak in extra sugar or other additives, so it’s best to check the label.
2. Canned Beans
While you won’t find much taste variation among canned beans or chickpeas, there is a good reason to stick with a known brand – they hold up better in recipes.
Very often, cheaper or generic cheeses tend to have more additives and fillers than necessary. Furthermore, they tend to score lower than branded cheese on taste tests.
4. Eggs
A carton of eggs might look like any other, but all eggs are not created equal. It all depends on what the chickens that laid them have been fed. For example, Eggland’s Best eggs have six times more vitamin D than other brands and less saturated fat.
Packaged coffee is one of the top seven most commonly adulterated foods. It’s often imported, and producers may bulk up the ground beans with cheaper fillers such as corn, soybeans, or even twigs. Furthermore, coffee drinkers often report that name-brand coffee tastes better. If you do decide to buy a store brand, go for whole beans to reduce the chances that it has been compromised.
6. Chocolate
Products that contain fair trade and organic cocoa and sugar have one of the highest rates of mislabelling and product tampering in the entire food and beverage industry. Furthermore, since dark chocolate’s health benefits are dependent upon its cacao percentage, it’s important to read the ingredients label carefully. In taste tests, brands such as Ghiradelli came out on top.
For the most part, generic brands are lower in cost and equally nutritious, but certain products can vary widely in their specific ingredients, which is why it’s vital to read nutrition labels very carefully. For example, some generic peanut butters have unhealthy additives such as added sugars or extra fat from non-sustainable resources such as palm oil.
8. Tomato Sauce
Products such as pasta sauce, marinara sauce, or plain tomato sauce that use high-quality tomatoes and spices with good olive oil tend to taste much better and require less additional sodium and sugar. Store-brand versions might be better for recipes that call for smaller amounts of tomato sauce, such as soups and stews.
Do You Shop at Trader Joe's? If So, Avoid These 10 Foods!
Trader Joe's have built an empire on house-brand products that are affordable and tasty, but some products should be left well alone. Here are 10 such items:
How to Get the Best Results from Your Slow Cooker
Do you have a slow cooker at home? If so, these tips will help you get the most out of it!
12 Foods We Bet You Didn't Know Could be Microwaved
Do you think that your microwave is only good for heating frozen dinners? If so, you’re sorely mistaken! Use the following microwave hacks to soften sugar, froth milk, whip up some French toast, and more!
Here's How You Can Save Time and Money When Shopping
We’re paying more nowadays not only at the gas pump but also at the grocery store. These fantastic tips below can help you slash your grocery costs.
Here Are 8 Foods That You'd Be Better Off Not Consuming!
When it comes to causing illnesses, some foods are worse than others. Here are 8 foods that food poisoning experts avoid. You should too.
If You Defrost Your Meat Like This, Stop Right Now!
Here are eight common defrosting mistakes that you really need to stop making right now!
These 10 Fantastic Life Hacks Will Make Your Life Easier
These life hacks will allow you to get things done quicker and generally make your life easier. Watch this informative video now.
We Bet You Didn't Know ChapStick Had So Many Good Uses
Did you know that ChapStick can do a lot more than heal dry lips? Here are 12 unexpected uses!
The Psychology of Decision Fatigue and How to Avoid It
Follow these tips to start making smart decisions quickly.
You Can Use Windex For MUCH More Than Just Windows
First invented in the 1930s, Windex is a potent solution that can be used for so much more than what it was originally intended for, as this list proves.
Everyday Hacks That Will Make Your Life So Much Easier
Try some of these ingenious everyday life hacks featured here. They are sure to simplify your life.
4 Simple Ways to Open a Jar Lid That’s Stuck
Opening a jar can be quite tricky and sometimes seemingly impossible, really, but with these tricks, you'll be able to twist it open in no time!
A Simple, Easy Guide for Writing Your Living Will
It's not something you want to think about, but writing your will is sure to lift a huge burden from your shoulders. Here's a simple guide.
These 2 Solutions Will Help You Say Goodbye to Plaque!
If you have some plaque on your teeth that you need to get rid of, we recommend that you try out this brilliant home remedy!
The 5 Best Ways to Do Your Laundry Quickly and Efficiently
What's the best way to clean a pair of shoes, or remove grease from fabric? Take a look:
7 Ways Lemons Can Make Your Life a Whole Lot Easier!
Here you'll discover seven surprising ways how you can use lemons and lemon juice to make your life cleaner and easier.
10 Natural Remedies That Actually Work
Not Feeling well? We recommend that you think outside the box, or in this case outside the medicine cabinet with the following 10 effective natural medicines!
Lessons in Etiquette: 21 Rules You Can’t Ignore
Watch etiquette expert William Hanson share some important tips that all of us must know.
15 Vintage Tips for Pet Care that Still Work
Get to know 15 home remedies and tips that will help your dogs and cats feel healthy and strong
We Bet You Didn't Know Bleach Had This Many Different Uses
Bleach is often used to whiten fabrics, disinfect toilets, and clean tiles. However, as you're about to see, bleach has many other alternative uses.
12 Unusual DIY “Hacks” People Used to Improve Their Lives
Take a look at some weird and unusual "inventions" made by people to solve their everyday problems.
These Potatoes Will Definitely Make Your Dish Stand Out
Every great dish needs a great side dish to complement it. These Baked-twice potatoes are such a side dish.
10 Indoor Plants That Thrive in Small Spaces
There is a great number of indoor plants that will make your home or office pretty and the air indoors fresher and cleaner but require very little space
Once and For All, Is there a Right Side to Aluminum Foil?
Many home cooks have pondered the question 'should I use the sticky or the dull side of an aluminum foil'? We're here to answer this question once and for all
10 Common Plant Diseases and How to Treat Them
Learn to diagnose and deal with 10 widespread plant diseases and how to prevent them from spreading through your outdoor or indoor garden.
Fake Olive Oil: Here's How You Can Spot It!
If you want to know whether the olive oil you have bought is real or an imposter, here's how you can tell!
30 Tips That Make Training Your Dog Easier Than Ever
It takes a lot of effort to train your pet. Here are all the secrets you need to know about dog training using positive reinforcement!
14 Psychological Tricks You Have to Try Today!
How about getting people to agree with you? Kid won't eat their greens? These 14 psychological tricks will get people to do what you want.
Keep Your House Smelling Amazing with These DIY Tips
These are some of the best and cheapest things you can do to make any part of your home smell nice and welcoming.
This is One Useful Oil You Always Want to Keep Around
This article will share six different and particularly effective uses for sesame oil, which make it clear why every home should have this essential ingredient.
This Guy Bought a Box of 50-Year-Old Kitchen Tools...
Let's have a look with Dave as he tries these 50-year-old kitchen tools, are they still impressive?
14 Ways to Enhance the Flavor of Your Cooking
We have collected 14 brilliant tips for you that will help turn your cooking and dining experience into an enjoyable and satisfying action.
Warning! Don't Fall For These Common Marketing Tricks!
Here are ten common marketing ploys that you should be aware of, which will help you spend your money in a more informed manner.
This is Why Paper Towels Are an Invaluable Necessity
If you're only using your paper towels to mop up the occasional kitchen accident, you're sure missing out. Here are 6 other uses for paper towels.
WD-40 Has So Many Uses I Can Hardly Believe It!
If you think WD-40 has only one use, you'll be utterly delighted by this list of 11 other uses.
24 Smart Things to do With Your Clothes Hangers
There are so many things you can do with a good old clothes hanger. Here's 24 of them!
Ten Genius Christmas Life Hacks You Surely Never Thought Of
The DIY solutions you always needed for this time of year...
The 11 Best Places to Retire to in 2024
Before you is a list of recommended places to retire to in 2024, all of which offer mix of affordable living, quality healthcare, vibrant communities, and diverse cultural experiences.
How to Fix Holes in Your Drywall: 4 Easy Ways
This video delves into four practical methods to repair your drywall, restoring your walls to their pristine condition.
Believe These 5 Survival Myths at Your Own Peril...
These common survival myths are actually dangerous.
Ten Things You Can Do With Sugar You Never Knew About
Sugar can do a whole lot more than just make things sweet.
Washing Fruits and Veggies: Here's What You’re Doing Wrong
Don't make these mistakes the next time you wash your fruits and vegetables.
How to Do Multiplications With Your Hands!
This simple mathematical trick is a great little tip to have when you need to make quick multiplications, or when you want to teach a child something neat!
7 Cleaning Mistakes You Probably Make Every Single Day
These unhealthy washing up mistakes are very common, yet it's very easy to learn how to clean up properly. This could save you and your family from illness.
The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make While Filing Taxes
Tax season is here. Make sure you don’t end up making these filing mistakes.
11 Handy Flight Hacks for Parents Traveling With Children
These tips will keep your kids happy on long flights.
Suffering From Chronic Pain? These Tips Can Help Manage It
If you're suffering from pain, these mantras and mental tricks can help immensely in pain management and reducing the accompanying stress