Consumer Reports: Majority of Store Brands Taste as Good as National Brands

YONKERS, N.Y. — In blind taste tests conducted by Consumer Reports, three private-label foods were deemed tastier than their national-brand counterparts, 19 tasted just as good, and six didn’t taste as good as the national brands.

Target’s Archer Farms Chewy Soft Baked Cookies, Costco’s Kirkland Signature Organic Medium Salsa and Wal-Mart’s Great Value Whipped Topping beat out similar offerings from Pepperidge Farm, Old El Paso, Betty Crocker and Kraft, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Ocean Spray Craisins, KC Masterpiece Original barbecue sauce, Oscar Mayer precooked bacon, Quaker Natural Granola Oats, Honey & Raisins cereal and Kellogg’s Pop Tarts beat their store-brand challengers. Consumer Reports didn’t specify which private labels were inferior to these products.

“Our tests should erase any lingering doubts that store-brand packaged goods aren’t at least worth a try,” said Tod Marks, senior project editor, Consumer Reports Shopping, in a statement. “In many cases, you’ll save money without compromising on quality.”

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