The Best and Worst Generic Products

Ranked #1,882 in Food & Cooking, #37,424 overall | Donates to CAER Food Shelf

Saving with Generic and Store Brand Products

We all know generic products cost less. What's surprising is that many are just as good or even better quality than their name brand counterparts. Unfortunately, many are indeed worse than name brand--some so much worse in quality that it's actually a waste of money to buy them. On this page is collaborative guide to some of the best and worst generic brand products. You can help contribute to this list by adding your vote on a generic product you've tried, or nominating one not yet on the list!

Consumer Reports Agrees!

Store Brand Often Tastes Just as Good as Name Brand...Sometimes Better!

Consumer Reports recently had taste testers compare brand name vs. generic for 21 common food items . The results were:

  • 11 products were a toss up - people liked store brand and name brand about the same

  • 7 name brands won out over the store brands

  • 3 store brands won out over the name brands

To see all the store brands and name brands compared, click here.

I've included the three winners along with other reader favorites in the Best of Generic list below.

Best Store Brand Products

Have you tried a generic/store brand or discount brand product that you thought was just as good or better than the name brand? If it's listed below, give it a vote up! If it's not listed, please add it to our list. And if it's a store-brand product make sure to name the store. (NOTE: Because of spam I've made this list moderated, so it may take a day or two for your entry to show up).

America's Choice Hot Dogs

Taste testers for Consumer Reports thought these h more...2 points

Walmart's Parent's Choice Real Cloth Wipes - Sensitive

These very gentle wipes have a unique cloth-like t more...1 point

HEB Brand Jam

These taste wonderful, come in a pretty jar, and a more...1 point

Walmart Stuffing

I have yet to be able to tell the difference betwe more...1 point

Walmart Great Value Pizza

I love this Pizza. I actually like it better than more...1 point

Food Lion Lotsa Noodle Soup

Taste testers for Consumer Reports liked this bett more...1 point

Publix Orange Juice

Taste testers for Consumer Reports preferred this more...1 point

HEB Store Brand Chewy Granola Bars

I think they taste even better than Quaker.0 points

HEB Brand Flavored Cream Cheese

These are definitely as good as Philly--and even h more...0 points

Safeway's brand of chili with beans.

0 points

HEB Creamy Tomato Herb Soup

This tastes just like La Madeline's Tomato soup, o more...0 points

Pepsodent Toothpaste

Low price always and as good as the name brand stu more...0 points

Walmart denture cleaning tablets

I like them better than the name brand!0 points

Dristan Nasal Spray

Half the price, same exact ingredients and size of more...0 points

The Worst Generic/Store Brand Products

When you buy generic, you expect a little bit less quality than name brand. But sometimes the quality is so bad that it makes you feel like even the lower price you paid is a rip-off. If you've had an especially bad experience with a generic/store brand or discount product, share it here. If it's already listed here, give it an up vote to move it higher on the "worst list." (NOTE: Because of spam I've made this list moderated. Yes, strangely enough people will even put their spam in a "worst of" list...so it may take a day or two for your entry to show up).

HEB Brand Baby Wipes

These are so thin they tear up taking them out of more...0 points

WalMart's Great Value Gelatins

I find most Great Value products comparable to nam more...0 points

WalMart's Great Value Sausage

I tried Walmart's beef sausage and when I cooked i more...0 points

Taste Isn't The Whole Picture

How name brand and store brands compare on healthy ingredients and nutrition.

Taste isn't the only factor to consider when comparing store brand and name brand products: nutritional value is also important. I've found that store brands versions of name brands products tend to be fairly similar in the amount of vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber they contain. Most also were similar when comparing the amount of fat, sugar, salt, carbs, and other things people try to avoid. However, when comparing ingredients of some store brand products I found that store brand products often used more unnatural and processed ingredients than similar name brands, such as using high fructose corn syrup in stead of sugar, or bleached flour in stead of whole wheat flour. BUT, not every time! For instance, Walmart's No Sugar Added Applesauce had less unhealthy ingredients than many of the name brand applesauces. Also, in many cases both the store brand and the name brand have equally unhealthy ingredients.

The bottom line is this...if you care about healthier ingredients you need to check the labels, whatever brand you buy.

Photo Credits

The photos at the top of this page were found on Flickr and are all licenced under Creative Commons, as are the photos below. You can see title picture close ups below, or click the pictures to visit them on Flickr.

1. The peppermint, 2. Windex?, 3. Up and Up, 4. Strawberry generic soda.

Windex? by trekkyandy
Select proliferation by M0les
suuper cute cereal boxes by me and the sysop
The Grocery Shrink Ray: It's magic! by blue_j
Pineapple soda by rutlo
curated content from Flickr

Reader Feedback

  • AnnaAdam Nov 29, 2011 @ 6:42 am | delete
    Its true to some extent. some generic products are of really good quality. As i used butter of generic brand that offers excellent taste and nutritional value at low cost.
  • davespeed Nov 26, 2011 @ 5:16 pm | delete
    I like to buy generic for everything except for two items: ketchup and soft drinks. With those two items, I can tell the difference.
  • mgs249 Nov 10, 2011 @ 1:46 pm | delete
    I buy store brands to save money and have seen no difference in the quality. I am low income so this is a necessity to me. Thanks
  • RhondaSueDavis Nov 5, 2011 @ 9:45 pm | delete
    I found another one, same exact ingredients and up to half the price of the competition...Dristan Nasal Spray. Also not a generic, but evaporated milk bought by the flat can be substitution for coffee and tea creamer, and works well in soups and when fresh milk is unavailable.
  • aesta1 Oct 30, 2011 @ 4:43 am | delete
    It takes time to learn about the generics but they're good value for money.
  • Load More

by

goldenecho

I'm an artist and webmaster and mother of three. I make lenses on Squidoo to earn donations for charities which support causes I care about.

(NOTE:...
more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

More Lenses by Goldenecho 

Loading