Comments on: There Are Some Foods That Should Never Be Made Generic

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:02:24 +0000

We get what we expect. You don’t want generics, because you believe they are inferior. To that end, your own mind picks out and amplifies any and all perceived bad qualities. Often, the mind also invents a few. Anything that goes against our strongly held notions, we ignore. Did the cheese taste bad? Probably not. Compare your brand name products to generics and store brands. They almost always have the same ingredients in the same order. Many times, the same plant will package the products. Say half goes into a brand name package, the other into a store brand. The difference is all in your head.

By: Bryan Robertson

Bryan Robertson — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:44:59 +0000

This is an interesting article. For those that say quality of generic food is lower than that of name brands, I would say that is wrong 90% of the time. The truth is a lot of generic foods, especially store brand labels are made by name brand companies. This fact is purposely hidden by these name brand companies, for obvious reasons. Generic brands are usually equally good or even better and most importantly cheaper. The exceptions to the cheaper rule are when your local store runs a good sale and you happen to have a coupon for the name brand. There are several ways you can reveal who makes what, any of these combinations are a good sign:

1) similar packaging either externally or internally (For example frozen pizzas most store brands are made my name brand companies

2) ingredient list, the manufactures will sometimes purposely change the order of the ingredients are listed to cause confusion. (For example, they might even replace the words salt with sodium – or water with H2O)

3) The fastest way to decode, most reliable when also compared with number 2 is the matching nutritional facts on products

4) same city and or state of manufacture, distribution, or packaging.

5) Ask a friend that works for the manufacture, distributor, or even a personal friend to that works that the local grocery store (Department manager, a store manager, or other person that regularly communicates with venders or distributors .

6) past product recalls, would be my last recommend source.

By: MikeN

MikeN — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:52:04 +0000

Frugal guy was right about the paint, only he should have blended all of his paint together in order to get one consistent color.

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:39:35 +0000

That’s definitely a made up story. Who throws food away when a friend went to a lot of trouble to make it for you? If it’s not made up, it’s a really immature thing to do.

By: The Idiocy of Carpool Lanes - SavingAdvice.com Blog

The Idiocy of Carpool Lanes - SavingAdvice.com Blog — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:15:20 +0000

[...] but fail to realize that driving with more than one person in a car is as unamerican as having a summer BBQ with generic food. It may be good in theory, but nobody is going to do it (well, except for my next door [...]

By: livingplanet

livingplanet — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:05:41 +0000

i think beer guy and generic guy are twin brothers! or, just one person, with two personalities! hilarious.

By: Topwaystosave

Topwaystosave — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:22:45 +0000

I could never drink generic soda. I have tried lots of different stores and to me none were ever really good. Grape soda and ginger ale were okay. It’s always the cola which tastes weird to me.

By: patricia

patricia — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:39:51 +0000

Most generic food sucks! The beverages are even worse. I know it would deflate your manliness but http://www.moneysavingmom.com (I have no affilitiation with this site)posts way to get REAL food for almost nothing using coupons.

I got 3 bags of groceries last week for $5.

By: Cindy M

Cindy M — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:42:44 +0000

P.S. – I’ve heard it said that many generic items actually have the same contents as the name brands, that at the canning places, it’s just a matter of labels being switched at a certain point in time. Interesting thought, but I have not checked this one out.

By: Cindy M

Cindy M — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:38:58 +0000

Hey, bud, that’s elitist. That or you just have hypersensitive taste buds and/or are at least 20 years younger than me. The young are just so darn picky usually too worried about being cool (like anybody really cares). One thing about getting frugally older is your sense of taste in most things must diminish, unless you’re still worried about trying to impress other people, that is. The only generic product I can’t abide these days is the Dollar General’s cola. Big K doesn’t bother me nor does Sam’s or Aldi’s versions, but Dollar General’s cola sucks and I’ve told them so, ha-ha. I think overall the generic house brands have improved immensely and in some cases even taste better than the name brands these days, from spaghetti sauce (Kroger’s house brand was awful but no more) to ice cream and yes, peanut butter, in my opinion. I’m not a beer drinker but a few times have bought the cheapest type and it did what it finer brews do to me, namely make me want to take a nap and wake up with a headache. Oh, and I’m particular about my bath soap; it’s gotta be Caress or Dove. Other than that, I’ve tried tons of products and have pretty much decided I can fix a great meal without spending a fortune.