# Generics vs brand name breakfast cereals **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 5, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598 "2025-01-05T22:57:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/21 "2025-01-06T18:07:35Z")
I’ve never really eaten breakfast cereal or got the hype, but in the past few years I will get something like rice krispies or chex just to have something on hand that I can eat fast and digest easily. I have found generic rice krispies at every grocery store to taste exactly the same and I’ve found like the Giant/Family size boxes for around 2 dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/22 "2025-01-06T18:36:57Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > That doesn’t necessarily mean they are made to the same specifications of the Name Brands versions\*. It’s possible the preparation of the “off-brands” uses cheaper or slightly modified ingredients, or there’s some other corner-cutting being done. True. There used to be corner cutting in store brands particularly In packaging e.g. the product might be directly in the box, not in a plastic bag within the box, or the bag is not resealable, or you need a can opener to open the can vs a pull top. Or have less of some expensive ingredients (example given above of vitamin and mineral fortification). But brand names themselves have been cutting corners right and left recently so who the heck knows any more. I know some brands would say on the packaging that they do not manufacture store brands, but I haven’t seen that in decades. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/23 "2025-01-06T20:09:43Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > When I worked for Quaker Oats in the late '90s, we had introduced a line of “bagged” breakfast cereals (i.e., in a plastic bag, no outer cardboard box), to compete against Malt-o-Meal’s line I remember those well. Quaker’s and Malt-O-Meal’s budget cereals were/are both good products. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/24 "2025-01-06T21:18:22Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I know some brands would say on the packaging that they do not manufacture store brands, but I haven’t seen that in decades. You also sometimes see it on the store brand packages, “Not manufactured by \”. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/25 "2025-01-06T23:26:59Z")
A side observation on the Marshmallow Mateys: I often snack on it dry, and by taking a handful and eating the cereal first, saving the marshmallows for last (I enjoy the crispy texture). I’ve noticed, though, that after literally only a minute in contact with my hand the marshmallows go from crisp to entirely .ushy. It surprises me that the change happens that quickly, and now I’m wondering if the big name cereal marshmallows are equally quick to failure. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/26 "2025-01-07T03:06:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I like mini shredded wheat (plain, Not sugar frosted) On a recent road trip, we bought some Trader Joe version of mini shredded wheat. The texture was atrocious and the mouth feel was all wrong. I’m assuming “store brand” is the same as “generic” for the sake of this conversation, even though Tratorious Joe _only_ sells generics instead of real brands? ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/27 "2025-01-07T03:19:17Z")
Best Choice has “Extra Raisins Raisin Bran” that is the shit. [https://bestchoicebrand.com/product/0007003830904/](https://bestchoicebrand.com/product/0007003830904/) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/28 "2025-01-07T03:25:53Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I’m assuming “store brand” is the same as “generic” for the sake of this conversation I’m assuming the same, as truly “generic”/unbranded grocery products – which were a thing, for a while, in U.S. grocery stores in the '80s – are pretty rare-to-nonexistent now, with that niche now being filled with store brands. The picture below is what true “generic” grocery products looked like. > **[https://i.redd.it/gkml9oy5h0b71.jpg](https://i.redd.it/gkml9oy5h0b71.jpg)** > [@Balthisar](#): > > even though Tratorious Joe _only_ sells generics instead of real brands? I don’t see what TJ’s sells as truly being generics; pretty much everything they sell is under their various store brand names. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/29 "2025-01-07T03:33:51Z")
If you want to absolutely enrage the branding and marketing folks in a retailer call their Private Label (or Own Brand) products “generic”. It’s great fun. Even more fun if you refer to a “contract manufacturer” as a “generic product” manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/30 "2025-01-07T03:34:36Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > If you want to absolutely enrage the branding and marketing folks in a retailer call their Private Label (or Own Brand) products “generic”. Ohh, yes. I’ve met some of them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/31 "2025-01-07T03:38:09Z")
Ever asked about their Hershey bar “knockoff”? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/32 "2025-01-07T04:15:28Z")
I remember those! It was in response to buzz that so much of the product price was marketing, including the design of the product labels. It looked really cool when there was a whole aisle of them ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/33 "2025-01-07T13:37:05Z")
Years ago I remember reading somewhere, possibly here, that when Ralston-Purina sold off their Chex brand to General Mills, they sold the name but not the recipe. Purina continued to manufacture “chex” cereals for store brand labels. So if you wanted the closest thing to original Chex you’d be better off buying a store brand knock-off rather than name-brand Chex. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/34 "2025-01-07T14:49:58Z")
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the plain white boxes at Kroger. The store brand boxes are printed Kroger and have pictures. I guess they’re more appealing to shoppers. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/35 "2025-01-07T17:24:55Z")
I’d love to try a generic that even attempts to be Product 19. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/36 "2025-01-08T00:23:21Z")
Food Lion has a great generic of Crispix, hilariously called Crispy Hexagons. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/37 "2025-01-08T00:38:02Z")
I had forgotten about that cereal until just now. You’re right, I haven’t seen it in years. I haven’t seen the oat squares in a while either. Kroger makes a habit of discontinuing things I like. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/38 "2025-01-08T01:43:01Z")
You’re also less likely to open the dog food when you are wanting tomatoes ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/39 "2025-01-08T01:43:22Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > . Kroger makes a habit of discontinuing things I like. Victim of The Committee. I miss the Raisin Bran with bananas. I see ones with cranberries but thats not bananas. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598/40 "2025-01-08T03:53:37Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The picture below is what true “generic” grocery products looked like. One of my favorite stories from my time in advertising was when my art director and I took a client to lunch. The client was an engineer for an industrial company, a rough and tumble manly man. He ordered a beer with lunch and we launched into a discussion of real beers vs. sissy light beers. Finally my art director said, “I’m not really a beer drinker, but I buy the generic brand because the black and white cans look good with my apartment’s decor.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generics-vs-brand-name-breakfast-cereals/1012598.md?page=3)