Consumer Reports Not Starstruck By Celebrity-Branded Foods

It seems like celebrities of all stripes will allow their names to be attached to any number of products, from Whitesnake wine to the bottled manly essence of Bruce Willis. And just like all retail goods, the quality of celeb-branded items can vary wildly. That’s why our test-lovin’ cousins at Consumer Reports recently decided to try out a slate of food products with star-powered names.

Beyond the curiosity factor, CR looked at celebrity-branded foods because a number of them cost significantly more than leading national brands, let alone generic and store brands. So is it worth paying the extra price for some TV star’s face on your box of pasta?

According to Consumer Reports, half of the 26 celebrity foods it tested were rated average, while 10 were rated “Very Good” and only three — Giada De Laurentiis Tomato Basil pasta sauce, Mario Batali Marinara sauce, and Wolfgang Puck Tomato Basil Bisque — earned a Rating of Excellent.

CR also warns that, while celebrity brands often cost more because they contain fresher and/or better quality ingredients, a famous name doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get anything different than you would from Kraft or Campbell’s.

“Don’t be starstruck,” said Tod Marks, Senior Project Editor, Consumer Reports. “Read labels, when possible, to look for clues. Fortunately, trying these everyday products carries little risk; they’re relatively inexpensive and if they fail to live up to expectations you haven’t broken the bank.”

Celebrity Brands: Are star-studded products worth their A-list prices? [Consumer Reports]

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