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Store brands rate high with taste testers again this year

By JANET K. KEELER
Published December 27, 2006

Wow. Our Taster's Choice judges must have cast-iron stomachs.

A quick scan of the grocery store products they tasted this year is enough to make anyone reach for the Pepto-Bismol or comparable generic. From bagels to chocolate pudding, ketchup to corn dogs, our good-natured judges, led by columnist Kathy Saunders, endured a lot.

Products are tasted blind, which means panelists do not see wrappers so they don't know whose product they are tasting. If products need to be cooked, they are prepared according to directions on packaging.

As has been the case since we started this column in 2004, store brands continue to make a strong showing, especially in the canned foods and snack categories.

When you refer to this list keep a few things in mind:

- Many Kash n' Karry stores are now Sweetbay and the store brand there is Hannaford.

- Essensia is the store brand of Albertson's.

- Great Value is the store brand of Wal-Mart.

- GFS Marketplace is what use to be Smart & Final.

- Most products were found in one of five places: Publix, Albertsons, Sweetbay, GFS or Wal-Mart. If you don't see a product, ask the store manager for help.

As always, we want your suggestions for testing. Send them to Taster's Choice, St. Petersburg Times, 490 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, or e-mail them to jkeeler@sptimes.com Please put TEST SUGGESTION in the subject line.

Here are the results from 2006:

Microwave chicken entrees: 1. Uncle Ben's Roasted Chicken & Vegetable bowl; 2. Lean Cuisine Herb Roasted Chicken; 3. Stouffer's Baked Chicken Breast.

Turkey lunch meat: 1. Publix; 2. Kash n' Karry; 3. GFS Marketplace.

Mint-chocolate chip ice cream: 1. Haagen-Dazs; 2. Dove; 3. Edy's.

Maple syrup: 1. Shady Maple Farms Organic; 2. Essensia; 3. Cary's.

Cheese crackers: 1. Lance; 2. Ritz; 3. Austin.

Quick-cooking oatmeal: 1. Publix; 2. Albertson's; 3. McCann's.

Whole wheat pasta: 1. Barilla; 2. Ronzoni; 3. Mueller's.

Dark chocolate: 1. Cadbury; 2. Hershey's Extra Dark; 3. Lindt.

Bran cereal: 1. Kellogg's Complete Wheat Bran; 2. Health Valley; 3. Total.

Baked ham: 1. Honeybaked; 2. Publix; 3. Albertson's.

Blueberry muffins: 1. Publix; 2. Sweetbay; 3. Albertson's.

Jelly beans: 1. Jelly Belly; 2. Lifesavers; 3. Smuckers.

Apple juice: 1. Langers; 2. Minute Maid; 3. Mott's.

Frozen lasagna: 1. Marie Callender's; 2. Healthy Choice; 3. Michael Angelo.

Chocolate-covered mints: 1. Weight Watchers; 2. Ghirardelli; 3. Russell Stover.

Canned black beans: 1. Ebro; 2. Publix; 3. Garcia's.

Frozen burger patties: 1. Grill Ready Classics; 2. Flanders; 3. Creekstone Farms.

Brie cheese: 1. Coeur de Lion; 2. Mon Desir; 3. Alouette.

Instant coffee: 1. Taster's Choice; 2. Cafe Bustelo; 3. Folgers.

Cheddar-flavored popcorn: 1. Wise; 2. Smartfood; 3. (tie) Hannaford and Cape Cod.

Chocolate syrup: 1. Nestle Nesquik; 2. (tie) Smuckers and Hannaford; 3. (tie) Mrs. Richardson's and Hershey's.

Sugar wafers: 1. Bahlsen Hannover; 2. Publix Sugar-Free; 3. Publix.

Veggie burgers: 1. Morningstar Farms; 2. Gardenburger; 3. Boca.

Frozen french fries: 1. Ore- Ida; 2. Publix; 3. GFS Marketplace.

Frozen drumsticks treat: 1. Blue Bell; 2. Nestle; 3. Wal-Mart.

Root beer: 1. IBC; 2. Original Stewart's Fountain Classic; 3. Mug.

Ketchup: 1. (tie) Publix and Wal-Mart Great Value; 2. Hannaford; 3. Heinz.

Bagels: 1. Ray's; 2. Thomas; 3. Cobblestone Mill.

Fruit cups: 1. Dole; 2. Albertson's; 3. Del Monte.

Chocolate pudding: 1. Hershey's; 2. Swiss Miss; 3. Kraft Handi-Snack.

Water-packed white tuna: 1. Wal-Mart; 2. Target; 3. Albertson's.

Creamed corn: 1. Green Giant; 2. Publix; 3. Glory Foods.

Tomato juice: 1. Albertson's; 2. Hannaford; 3. Campbell's.

Glazed doughnuts: 1. Kash n' Karry; 2. Publix; 3. Albertson's.

Fudge brownie mixes: 1. Duncan Hines Chocolate Lover's Brownies; 2. Albertson's brownies; 3. Betty Crocker fudge brownies.

Oyster crackers: 1. Olde Cape Cod; 2. Hannaford; 3. Hain Pure Foods.

Barbecue sauce: 1. Albertson's Original; 2. Allegro; 3. Publix.

Vanilla sandwich cookies: 1. (tie) Graham-Wiches Honey Graham and Vanilla Cremes; 2. Golden Oreo Originals; 3. Famous Amos.

Corn dogs: 1. Oscar Mayer; 2. Great Value; 3. Fairgrounds.

Candy corn: 1. Zachery; 2. Albertson's; 3. GFS.

Frozen pumpkin pie: 1. Sara Lee's ChefPierre (GFS Marketplace); 2. Marie Callender; 3. Mrs. Smith's.

Mayonnaise: 1. Hellmann's; 2. Albertson's; 3. Publix.

Canned sweet potatoes: 1. Allen's; 2. Sylvia's; No: 3: Glory.

Marshmallows: 1. Great Value; 2. Hannaford; 3. Kraft.

Pretzels: 1. Rold Gold; 2. Publix; 3. (tie) Snyder's and Great Value.

Pepperoni: 1. Oscar Mayer; 2. Hormel; 3. (tie) Old Wisconsin and Mama Mary's.

Tortilla chips: 1. Publix; 2. Santitas; 3. (tie) Tostitos, Medallion Minis and Hannaford.

Janet K. Keeler can be reached at (727) 893-8586 or jkeeler@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 26, 2006, 11:33:35]