Can you taste a difference? Part 1

Can you taste a difference? Part 1

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By Anthony Congi

IDAHO FALLS - Is there really a difference between these products? To find out, I'm putting families just like yours to a blind taste test.

I take 10 different types of name brand food and put them against the store brand to see if it's all in the packaging or if there really is a difference.

Amanda Rowett and her daughter Bethani go through about $100 a week in groceries. Mainly because Bethani goes for the name brands.

"She won't even eat anything else. I would like to think of myself as a generic shopper but there aren't many things in here that aren't name brand," says Rowett.

Rich Franco and his boys Bryce and Trevor go through about $150 in groceries, and that's after he tried switching to cheaper brands.

"I used to go for the name brand, I definitely was a shopper that didn't pay attention and now I kinda take a look at the store brands and wherever I can save some money for sure," says Franco.

And my wild card, Martie Jaramillo, executive chef of The Cellar Restaurant. With degrees in culinary arts and culinary management, you know she has to have a good sense of taste.

First up, breakfast items. We'll start with cereal. "A" is the generic Golden Wheat Puffs against "B" is the Kellogg's Honey Smacks.

All the testers were given the food in the same exact order. And after trying both, it's time for the verdict.

Amanda: "The first one was much better."

Bethani: "The second."

Trevor: "I like the second one better."

Rich: "Really? I like the first one better."

Martie: "'A' is a little bit sweeter a little bit crunchier."

Generic wins 3 to 2.

Next up, Quaker Oats Chocolate Chip Granola Bars and "B" is the store counterpart.

Bethani: "Second."

Amanda: "I like the second one too."

Trevor: "That's better, I like this one."

Rich: "We're very contradictive, I like the first one."

Martie: "I actually like 'B' better"

Generic wins 4 to 1.

Next, "A" is Kellog's Nutri Grain cereal bars and "B" is the store brand.

Amanda: "Second."

Bethani: "The first."

Trevor: "I like both of them."

Rich: "Yeah that one was tough, I think they're both pretty good. I'm gonna go with 'B' though."

Martie: "Definitely 'B'. I just like the dough better on that. A lot flakier, softer."

One again, generic wins 4 to 1.

Next, Pop Tarts are "A", the generic, "B".

Amanda: "First one."

Bethani: "First."

Rich: "Definitely number 2."

Trevor: "Probably number one."

Martie: "'A' was a little bit more soft but I liked 'B' better."

Poptarts take this one 3 to 2.

And our last item for breakfast, "A" is the generic fruit on bottom yogurt against Yoplait.

Bethani: "The second."

Amanda: "The Second."

Trevor: "I like number two better."

Rich: "Yeah I did too, it had some fruit in it."

No contest here, Yoplait sweeps the store brand.

So obviously there were some winners and a few close ones. Next time you're shopping, see if you can taste a difference.

Coming up tomorrow night, same group of people, this time we try lunch products. Make sure you don't miss it.
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