I think I've been lied to.

[thistlechaser]

All my life, I've been told that generic brand items are just as good as brand name ones, that often it's actually the same item just in a different package.

Based on my limited experiences, I think that's BS.

That or the Lucky grocery chain has really crappy generic stuff.

One week I bought the Lucky brand generic pickles (the brand I like only came in really big jars, so I figured why not). They were awful. How can pickles be awful? Somehow these were.

Not having learned my lesson, this week I bought the store brand Jello (or rather, Jello-like product). It had a lot more flavors available, so I happily bought a few.

They're really, really bad. Not only is the texture all wrong (way too thick/solid, not Jello-y), but the flavor tastes very cheap.

Okay, two items might not be that big of a sample food, but my knockoff Jello is making me sad and grumpy.

Comments

[wow-hazmat.livejournal.com]

It reeeeeeeally depends on the store brand.

Fer example, the spouse and I really like having powdered hazelnut-flavored creamer in our coffee. Brand name is usually twice as expensive as store brand.

Harris Teeter's creamer is tasty, Wal-Mart's creamer is tasty, too. Food Lion's, though, tastes horrible and gross.

Y'gotta experiment. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That makes sense! I usually stick with the name brand because I think it will just automatically be better, but based on all these comments, I'm going to try more non-name brand stuff.

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

I am kind of surprised about the jello, because I figured that would be ok generic! Good to know! I am a picky asshole about my pickles, so I feel you on that one. I like Bubbies, and everything else is just not as delicious, and I will stand by that. When I ate cereal though, it seemed like the Kroger/Total/Whatever Raisin Bran was just the same as Kelloggs. Maybe it is true for cereal and not for pickles? Who knows. Food is hard.

I was thinking of you the other day because I was thinking of pickles and I thought, hey, Thistle might like sauerkraut if it was the pickle kind! I get this one brand called Farmhouse Fresh, and it has lots of different flavors like classic caraway and horseradish leek, and also garlic dill pickle. So maybe another vegetable to try if you are still trying to care about vegetables. If not well FUCK THOSE VEGETABLES, FUCK THEM AND THE DIRT THEY GREW UP IN.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Me too! Jello seems so straight forward, I didn't think they could make a bad version if they tried. The store brand has three times the number of flavors that the brand name (sugar free) has, so I'm disappointed that it didn't work out.

Hmm I hadn't thought about sauerkraut before! I did consider relish, but that stuff is surprisingly high in calories. I'll take a look for sauerkraut next time I shop.

FUCK THOSE VEGETABLES, FUCK THEM AND THE DIRT THEY GREW UP IN

You tell 'em!

[machinegirl.livejournal.com]

We have a grocery store chain in Texas called HEB. They make the majority (if not all) of their store brand items directly, and they're priced cheaper. And holy shit are they good. I'm trying to remember the last time I bought a national brand. I even buy the store brand toilet paper because it's that good.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's great! I'm going to try generics from different places and see if I can hit on a win like that, too.

[mayanas.livejournal.com]

Some products it's almost the same, others there's a world of difference, and sometimes it's a matter of taste! Like coca-cola vs. pepsi. I can taste the difference but it's still pretty much the same to me. Not so, for everyone else

I have found one brand of cornflakes that I like other than Kelloggs (not that I eat cornflakes that often). Everything else is just flat and gets soggy too fast.

And Heinz Baked Beans, which they for some OUTRAGEOUS reason have stopped selling in this country so we're stuck with NOT-Heinz Baked Beans and they are really, really not as good.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Like coca-cola vs. pepsi. I can taste the difference but it's still pretty much the same to me. Not so, for everyone else

Oh yeah. I LOVE Diet Coke, but if it's a Pepsi product I'd rather just have water. It's silly, but it's what I'm used to -- Diet Pepsi just tastes wrong.

Sorry about the lack of Heinz Baked Beans! Sucks so much when a store or area stops selling something that's great.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I think it is hit or miss. Some store brands are really good. There is one thing a local market used to sell (a cranberry spread) that I wish they'd bring back as no brand name has anything as good.
But, lots of it is just cheaper and tastes that way too...

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Based on all these comments, I think you're right. It's really hit and miss, so you have to try a lot before you find the good things.

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

It really does depend on the store, and the store brand, and even then, some things are good, others are crap. It's always a gamble when I try out new things here. In Germany, there's actually a list of which store-brand products are brand products in a different package (and price range). That's always a handy reference to have.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

there's actually a list of which store-brand products are brand products in a different package (and price range).

Oh wow, that'd be so useful! No use not getting the store brand then, you'd just be saving money.

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

Like everybody says, it depends on the store...I found the Kirkland brand from Costco to be really good, better than many national brands. I miss having a Costco membership. My closest Costco is 2 hours away, so it is no longer cost-effective. Safeway brand stuff is usually fine too.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I've heard good things about the Kirkland brand, and it's what we use at work.

I wish I could get a Costco membership too, but just being a one person household, it's not really that useful.

Safeway is where I usually do all of my shopping, I've just been going to Lucky lately because they carry some frozen stuff that Safeway doesn't. I need to stick to just that one item and then Safeway for the rest of what I need.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I find it's really hit or miss with generic items. And the only way to know if the ingredients are the same is to check. They usually are not. In many cases, the generic (cheaper) brand usually cuts corners and uses things that are less healthy. Not always, but a lot of the time. Sometimes it's worth the extra 50 cents/dollar to get the real brand name.

I tend to do generic for non-food items.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That's a good policy, generic for non-food stuff. Doesn't matter as much with paper towels and such!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

LOL oddly enough, paper towel and toilet paper are ones that I do tend to buy brand names for. I dunno, cheap toilet paper never goes well for me ;-)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, toilet paper is like that for me. Some things you just want good quality for. :P

[wildrose.livejournal.com]

My mom keeps telling me that too, about it being the same item in a different package. I'm not sure if I believe that...have made both bad and good experiences with store brands.
That Jello-imitation sounds gross :(

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it probably depends, like others said. Maybe some things are the same but others are not.

It is. :/

[voidmagus.livejournal.com]

My wife worked for a candy company for a couple of years. One of their big contracts was gummies. Thing is, they made both the name brand and the store brand - in most cases, the recipe was the same. Some retailers required they change the recipe considerably (usually to reduce production/material costs).

So I can confirm that it is true...sometimes.

[wildrose.livejournal.com]

Oh,that's interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[gaudy-flowers.livejournal.com]

I find it depends on the store and then each individual item. Once I find a generic that is just as good or better I will always get it instead. Unless the brand name is on sale and that sale price is cheaper than the generic.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. I need to explore generics more, so I can find the ones worth getting.

[bacchuslives.livejournal.com]

I think it depends. In my experience, some things are fine, others not so much. E.g. Aluminum foil, fine... Paper towels? Not so much. Etc.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh that's true, I forgot about foil, I think I have gotten it generic.

Plastic wrap (or at least the generic I tried a while back) was horrible. Didn't stick to anything but itself.

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

Based on my limited experiences, I think that's BS.

... I totally agree!!!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That makes two of us! :)