If you want to save money at the grocery store, you’ve probably heard that you should buy generic. Still, that psychological barrier exists, swearing up and down that the name brand tastes better. This video explains why that’s probably not the case.


As the video above from ASAP Science explains, most generic food brands come from the same source as their name brand counterparts. Even when they differ slightly, the changes are so minimal that it’s hard to tell the difference. In fact, the placebo effect we naturally suffer from seeing a label we perceive as more valuable can have a more powerful influence on our tastes than the actual differences.

The similarities are even more stark when you’re dealing with over the counter drugs. These are required by the FDA to be functionally identical to their name brand counterparts. So, spending the (sometimes significant) extra money on the name brand is worthless. If you’re worried about getting a less effective product, take a chance on the cheap version.


Brand Name vs. Generic | ASAP Science