Value/economy foods

[sammd]

What's the difference between the ingredients in value/economy foods and brand name foods? Is it just cheaper ingredients and is it less healthy to eat them?

[vehelpfulguy]

For some things they just put in more water as against other ingredients. It always amazes me that when you look at the ingredients of some products Water is the highest.

For example quality Bolognese sauce might have tomatoes at the top ingredient, with water further down.

Cheaper Bolognese sauce will have Water as the top ingredient with tomatoes further down.

Same with Jam. Quality jam may have a high fruit content, cheaper jam a lower fruit content.

A friend of mine who worked for a jam making company said the Marks and Spence jam had the highest fruit content, even higher than their own brand.

You get what you pay for.

[cassimer]

Not always true. At asda many of the own brand items are exactly the same as branded and smartprice, from the same suppliers and farms. There are exceptions but largely they are so cheap because of the packaging, and as they are priced as loss leaders - make us no money.