‘Own-brand’ groceries shown to be better for you as cheaper grub has less fat, sugar, salt AND calories than pricier alternatives
It's a myth that budget ranges are full of unhealthy ingredients, says expert
DITCHING famous brands for supermarket-own products could be better for your health, a study found.
Bargain labels were often shown to contain less sugar, fat, salt and calories than more expensive named alternatives.
That is because cutting back on high-fat ingredients such as butter and olive oil makes the item cheaper to produce.
Research this week reveals 54 per cent of shoppers plan to swap to own-brand groceries in a bid to save money.
And an investigation by consumer site Can I Eat It? found at least ten examples where a supermarket’s version of a product is healthier than the big brand.
MOST READ IN HEALTH
Its founder and professional food and drink taster Mark Isark said: “Shoppers often think that they have to spend more to get healthier products.
“But it is a myth that budget ranges are full of saturated fat and other unhealthy ingredients.”
Heinz Salad Cream has 3.6g more sugar and 0.56g more salt per 100g than Waitrose’s Essential version, which is 18.3p per 100g cheaper.
And Green Giant Original Sweetcorn has 5.7g more sugar and 0.3g more saturated fat per 100g than Morrisons M Savers sweetcorn, which is a third of the cost.
Mr Isark said pizzas are a good example as the pricier ones tend to have more cheese, which is high in saturated fats that can cause heart problems.
He added: “Basic own brands are very cheap because the manufacturers cut down on expensive ingredients such as salt and sugar where they can do so without altering taste.
“This means that they are not just cheaper but healthier by default.”