Consumer Reports Conducts Blind Taste Tests

SN STAFF

YONKERS, N.Y. — Consumer Reports blind taste tested 21 national brands and private labels, and more than half of the match-ups resulted in a tie.

National brands came out on top in seven categories including mayonnaise, mozzarella cheese and frozen french fries, while store brands bested the competition in three segments: chicken soup, orange juice and hot dogs.

"The study reaffirms that store brands are worth a try,” said Tod Marks, senior projects editor for Consumer Reports, in a statement. “For a family that spends $100 a week on groceries, the savings could add up to more than $1,500 a year.”

Private-label winners include:

• Food Lion’s Lotsa’ Noodles soup vs. Campbell’s Chicken Noodle.

• Publix Premium orange juice vs. Tropicana.

• A&P’s America’s Choice beef hot dogs vs. Oscar Mayer. National brands including Heinz ketchup beat out Target’s Market Pantry; Skippy peanut butter won against Albertsons' version and Lay’s potato chips bested Wal-Mart’s Great Value.