Photo: Roberto Machado Noa (Getty Images)
What’s in a name brand? Would a product by any other name not taste as sweet, or as salty, or as rich in mayonnaise-y goodness?
Last week, inspired by my resigned sigh at cracking open a new box of disappointing store-brand cheese crackers, I asked you all which name-brand products have earned your undying devotion, despite the fact that you’ll usually be paying a little (or a lot) more for them. Your answers were both pretty much what I was expecting (I too know the pain of trying to tear off a sheet of no-name paper towel without it ripping into useless shreds) and surprisingly passionate in ways I did not anticipate. Which is to say, wow, people really love Dawn dish soap.
If Dawn was the most popular response, though, other trends emerged as well. It seems most of you can tell the difference when it comes to condiments, for example, from mayonnaise, to ketchup, to Worcestershire sauce. Many of you gravitate to name brand cereals and sodas. And I was pleased to see that—other than a few errant, misguided souls on Facebook (of course)—nearly everyone agrees Cheez-Its are worth their weight in MSG..
Now, we did have a few contrarians pointing out that store brands are often perfectly fine, actually, if not made on the same equipment (and in the same formulations) as their name-brand competitors (with Costco’s Kirkland brand singled out for particular its mix of quality and value). And I agree—I come here not to bury generics, but to praise them by omission: You can safely assume that if your generic product of choice doesn’t appear on this list, you are cleared to continue choosing it and keeping a few extra bucks in your pocket.
Just don’t try to get away with using non-Dawn dish soap. They will know, and they will come for you.
