BNI of generic brands

Some corn chips⁵ are sold under generic brands (eg, a supermarket brand) while others are sold under proprietary brands. Thus, it is of interest to test whether such characteristic informs about overall nutritional balance (BNI) and, thus, whether it may help choose more balanced products. As part of a research on the nutritional balance of corn chips (2012a)², Perezgonzalez (2012b)³ also assessed whether generic and proprietary brands differed in regards to overall nutritional balance. This article summarizes that research.

Illustrations 1 to 4 show the nutritional profiles of corn chips sold both under named brands and under generic brands. These profiles were quite similar, albeit a slightly higher for generic brands (BNI 55.14) due, mainly, to them providing more saturated fat and sodium than proprietary brands did.

Illustration 1: Nutrition information (named brands)

BNI	47.09f	0.00

Food, 100g	2012	Ideal
Protein	7.7	24.7
Carbohydrate	58.9	67.8
Sugar	2.5	< 2.5
Fat	25.2	13.7
Saturated fat	8.0	< 5.5
Fiber	3.7*	7.4
Sodium	0.549	< 0.493
Kcal	493.2	493.2
kJul	2063.5	2063.5

(*) Fiber content estimated from Doritos Burn.

Illustration 2: Nutrition information (generic brands)

BNI	55.14f	0.00

Food, 100g	2012	Ideal
Protein	6.2	24.4
Carbohydrate	58.9	67.0
Sugar	2.7	< 2.7
Fat	25.2	13.5
Saturated fat	10.3	< 5.4
Fiber	3.7*	7.3
Sodium	0.687	< 0.487
Kcal	487.2	487.2
kJul	2038.4	2038.4

(*) Fiber content estimated from Doritos Burn.

Illustration 3: Nutritional profile (named brands)

55%
50%		*
45%		*	*
40%		*	*
35%		*	*
30%		*	*
25%		*	*
20%		*	*
15%		*	*
10%		*	*	*
5%	*	*	*	*
mid	p	c	f	fb
max		s	sf		na
5%			*		*
10%			*		*
15%			*		*
20%					*
25%					*

ideal % = grey cells; actual % = asterisk (*)

Illustration 4: Nutritional profile (generic brands)

55%
50%		*
45%		*	*
40%		*	*
35%		*	*
30%		*	*
25%		*	*
20%		*	*
15%		*	*
10%		*	*	*
5%	*	*	*	*
mid	p	c	f	fb
max		s	sf		na
5%			*		*
10%			*		*
15%			*		*
20%			*		*
25%					*
30%					*
35%					*

ideal % = grey cells; actual % = asterisk (*)

Author

Jose D PEREZGONZALEZ (2012). Massey University, Turitea Campus, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand. (JDPerezgonzalez).

Want to know more?

BNI™ database: The database offers individual nutrition analyses for food, including the foods referred to in above article.
BNI™ journal (2012, issue 6) - Corn utopia: This issue of the Balanced Nutrition Index™ journal collates all BNI™ nutrition information about the original sample in a single book.
Wiki of Science - BNI of kinds of corn chips (further knowledge): Two Wiki of Science pages provide further descriptive and inferential information about the nutritional balance of kinds of corn chips.