FOOD TRUTHS: Popular foods and household staples are under scrutiny for cost and nutrition concerns (Image: Getty)
Health professionals, nutritionists and shopping experts have revealed the supermarket products they actively avoid buying – warning that many popular items are either poor for health, overpriced or misleadingly marketed. The experts cited a growing concern over ultra-processed foods, rising grocery costs and a lack of nutritional value in some everyday staples.
Their advice ranges from breakfast cereals and ready meals to bottled water and greeting cards. Here’s what they said.
What the health coach says
PCI-qualified health coach and founder of Clubwell, Steve Bennett, said years of personal experience taught him which supermarket items to avoid: “After spending 25 years struggling with obesity and then transitioning from CEO to health coach, I’ve learnt which supermarket products work against our health.”
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Steve says he avoids:
Breakfast cereals: “Most cereals are fibre-stripped, sugar-loaded products marketed as healthy. A typical bowl of cornflakes has the blood sugar impact of 19 teaspoons of table sugar. Even the ‘wholesome’ options like granola often contain more sugar than a doughnut. Your body doesn’t care if it’s honey, maple syrup, or plain sugar – it all triggers the same insulin response that locks you in fat-storage mode.”
Fruit juice: “A glass of orange juice contains around eight teaspoons of sugar without any of the fibre that would slow absorption. It’s essentially a sugar bomb in a healthy disguise. The fructose content is particularly problematic, heading straight to your liver where it’s converted into fat. If you want fruit benefits, eat whole fruit instead.”
Low-fat products: “When manufacturers remove fat, they typically replace it with sugar and additives to maintain flavour. Low-fat yoghurt often contains more sugar than ice cream. Natural fats aren’t your enemy – they’re essential for hormone production, brain function and keeping you satisfied after meals.”
Shop-bought granola: “A 60g serving has the blood sugar impact of eight teaspoons of table sugar. The processing removes beneficial fibre whilst adding sugar, creating the perfect storm for blood sugar spikes and subsequent crashes. Make your own using nuts, seeds and minimal sweetener.”
Vegetable oils: “These industrial seed oils (corn oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil) are highly processed and inflammatory. They’re marketed as heart-healthy, but the omega-6 content promotes chronic inflammation. Stick to olive oil, coconut oil, butter or ghee instead.” (It is worth noting here that some experts in health, science and nutrition, like Professor Sarah Berry of science and nutrition firm Zoe, say seed oils do not harm our health).
Ready meals: “Convenience comes at a cost. These products typically combine the taste bud trio – sugar, fat and salt – in combinations that never occur in nature, engineered specifically to override your body’s natural satiety signals. They’re designed for repeat purchases, not your health.”
But Steve’s advice is straightforward: “Shop the perimeter of the supermarket where real food lives: fresh meat, fish, vegetables and whole ingredients. If your grandmother wouldn’t recognise it as food, neither should your body.”
MORE HEALTH ADVICEWhat the dietitian says
A registered dietitian and nutritionist, Dr Sarah Schenker, who has collaborated with major retailers including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tilda, as well as football clubs such as Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC, highlighted one particular product that she would never buy: “I would probably go with a Pot Noodle on nutritional grounds. They really just provide calories from refined carbs, there is a small amount of protein per pot and very few vitamins and minerals.
“The tiny amounts of dehydrated veg don’t contribute anything. The drying process destroys the vitamins. They are very high in salt and additives like MSG. The lack of fibre and protein means satiety is low, so you get hungry again very quickly. They might be convenient for lunch, as you just add hot water, but you are not getting a balanced meal, you might as well eat a plate of plain crackers!”
What the gluten-free expert says
Nicole Hunn, recipe and culinary expert at Gluten Free on a Shoestring, told Steffan Rhys from the Express: “I almost never buy gluten-free products from the supermarket, especially bread, cookies, cakes and muffins. They’re built for shelf life, not flavour. They simply don’t offer decent value.” She said homemade versions using real ingredients such as butter, eggs and balanced flour blends taste far better.
What the shopping expert says
Sarah-Jane Outten, shopping expert at MyVoucherCode, concentrated on the financial aspect, and highlighted items that are poor value for money: “When I’m shopping for groceries, there are some items I avoid because they just aren’t as good a value.”
Pre-chopped vegetables, fruit or salad: “Although convenient, pre-cut vegetables and fruit are more expensive than whole fruits and vegetables. In some cases, you are paying up to 300% more. They also have a far shorter shelf life,” she said.
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Pre-grated cheese: “Buying cheese in blocks gives you a lot more cheese for your money. For example, a 550g block of Cathedral City Mature Cheddar is £9.64 per kg compared to £11.25 per kg for the grated equivalent (current Tesco price). There are often unwanted extras added to prevent clumping, including potato starch and cellulose.”
Spices in jars: “Head to a local international food store for your herbs and spices. A large bag of your chosen herbs or spices is often the same cost as those tiny jars. You will also be supporting a small business. However, if you don’t have an international food store near you, head to the world foods aisle in the supermarket – you may well find them there, too.”
Bottled water: “If you’re not a fan of tap water, consider investing in a water filter instead. If you drink around two litres of water a day, you will spend between £55 and £85 a year on jug-filtered water. However, bottled water will cost you around £200 to £400 per year if you opt for a budget brand. If you love a luxury brand, you can look at spending over £1,200 a year. Tap water lovers will spend approximately £2.50 to £3.50 a year, by far the cheapest and most eco-friendly option.
Travel-size toiletries: “Although handy, these smaller-sized shampoo and shower gel bottles are a pricey convenience. A 50ml travel size of Sanex moisturising shower gel is £1.60 (£3.20 per 100ml). A full-size 450 ml bottle is just £3.75 (83p per 100ml). It’s far better to pick up a pack of reusable small bottles and decant into those for maximum value.”
What the retail analyst says
Clay Cary, senior trends analyst at CouponFollow, said shoppers should also avoid a number of everyday supermarket purchases, warning that many are ‘money traps’. He said greeting cards are one of the biggest offenders and can ‘easily be avoided by finding the same thing, if not better’ at bargain stores or by buying online in bulk.
Batteries are another product he believes are routinely overpriced in supermarkets, adding: “You can buy multipacks from Costco or Amazon for a way better price.” He also warned that spices and seasonings can be ‘through the roof’ in grocery stores, with larger and better-value containers available from international food shops or online.
He added that shoppers should think twice before buying name-brand cleaning supplies, saying supermarkets often push them at a premium price when generic alternatives – or even homemade solutions using vinegar and baking soda – can deliver the same results, with off-brand options readily available at discount chains such as Aldi.
What the pharmacist says
Abbas Kanani, a Chemist Click superintendent pharmacist said he’d avoid over-the-counter medicines and supplements, explaining: “Supermarkets often stock a limited range, and prices can be higher. More importantly, there’s usually no access to professional advice, which matters for things like painkillers, cold remedies, or supplements that can interact with other medicines.”
He also warned against high-strength vitamins and ‘health’ supplements, adding: “These are often marketed as harmless, but some can be unnecessary or even harmful in excess. In a pharmacy, I’d expect proper guidance on whether they’re actually needed and safe.”
The experts agree
Across all professions, the experts shared similar advice:
Buy whole foods where possibleAvoid ultra-processed itemsCompare prices per unitShop international food aisles for spicesSeek pharmacy advice for medicinesPrepare more food at homeREAD NEXT