Be Aware of "Tricky" Food Labels

If you want to save at the supermarket there a few things you may need to know that are just "buzzwords", which are marketing methods to trick you into thinking you are getting a healthier product.

Caution must be taken to avoid spending more on items that are over-rated by terms that are misleading. A few marketing tricks to help you avoid over spending are:

Beef

Organic Beef is expensive, and the term "organic" does not specify if the beef is either grain-fed or grass-fed beef. Your best buy for beef would be the grass-fed, which contains about half as much fat, twice as much omega-3 fatty acids and a higher level of vitamin E.

Fish

Organic fish, the USDA has not established a standard for organic seafood, therefore, it may not be worth the extra price.

Eggs

Hormone free eggs, do not pay extra for this label, because all eggs are hormone free since the practice of using hormones in poultry was banned in the 1960's. Be cautions about paying more for "free range" eggs. This could mean that these hens are allowed to be outdoors on a cemented area. If you want eggs from real farm, barnyard chickens, look for eggs labeled "certified humane."

Brown eggs are identical to white eggs in nutrition but cost about 50 cents more per dozen.

Dairy

In the dairy case most store brands of milk are free of added hormones, and the average cost is about half the price of the organic brands. Cheese is often placed on a special table as a draw for special occasions and the price is much higher than the same item found in the regular dairy case. This is also true of other grocery items, so look around before making a selection.

The supermarkets and food manufactures are full of clever ways of enticing the buyer to purchase certain products. Take a list, even if you are only going after a few things. Check your pantry and refrigerator to prevent over stocking.

Compare prices by the cost per unit, ounce or pound. Comparison pricing can save you money. If you are single, select smaller sizes, because not using all of a product is wasteful and costs you more in the long run.

Finally be aware of the little "buzz" words and be sure you know what you are paying for and decide if it really worth the extra price.

Sources: Personal experience and AARP - The Magazine