Generic vs. Name Brand Taste Test

From an early age, we as consumers have been conditioned by the likes of Chef Boyardee and Chester Cheetah to reach for their products when grocery shopping. We assume that we choose name brands, like Cheetos, over their generic counterparts because the name brands are of higher quality. But is this always the case?

In this activity, students participate in a blind taste test that pits name brand foods against their private label (generic) equivalents.  Included in the taste test are the name brand/private label equivalents for: Sprite, Orange Juice, Bottled Water, Pop Tarts, Cereal Bars, Fruit Cocktail, Cheetos, Cheez-Its, and Froot Loops.

Students sample each product and then complete a form that indicates which product they believe is the name brand, and which they believe is the better of the two products.

Inevitably, students are not always able to correctly identify name brands in the blind taste test. This leads into a discussion (PowerPoint provided) of why name brand foods are more expensive, as well as the cost savings that we can recognize by substituting private labels for name brands.

Students Participating in Taste Test of Generic and Name Brand Foods

Lesson Resources

Worksheet: Taste Test Scorecard

PowerPoint Discussion: Generic (Private Label) vs. Name Brand Foods

Article: Dumped! Brand Names Fight to Stay in Stores

Lesson Extensions

• Marketing – this lesson could also be used in a Marketing course
• Personal Finance – I often add a component the requires students to devise a weekly menu and compare prices on the items at their local grocery store

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3. Personal Finance Lesson: Budgeting 101