Time to think again about how you shop.
I asked experts in a range of different areas to name the items they would never buy in a supermarket. I didn’t specify the reasons but most experts focused on health and value for money as the reasons they wouldn’t buy certain items.
A huge amount of the food that fills our supermarket shelves is ultra-processed, often actively designed to be hyper-palatable, cheap to produce and long-lasting. This often means it contains chemicals or has been industrially-produced. It will often contain high levels of sugar and saturated fat.
PCI-qualified health coach and founder of Clubwell, Steve Bennett, said: “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.” Steve said 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 8 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 8 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 other 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 solution is simple: “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.”
‘They don’t contribute anything’
Dr Sarah Schenker, a registered dietitian and nutritionist who has worked with brands including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tilda and sports teams like Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC, singled out one product in particular: “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!”
‘I almost never buy gluten-free products from the supermarket’
Nicole Hunn, recipe and culinary expert at Gluten Free on a Shoestring, said: “I almost never buy gluten-free products from the supermarket, especially bread, cookies, cakes and muffins. After years of developing and testing gluten-free recipes at home, I’ve learned that most store-bought versions are built for shelf life, not flavour. They often rely on refined starches, gums, and preservatives, which can leave the texture dry or crumbly and the taste a little flat. When you bake at home, you can use real ingredients like butter, eggs, milk, and well balanced gluten-free flour blends, and the difference is very noticeable.”
‘They just aren’t good value’
But Sarah-Jane Outten, shopping expert at MyVoucherCode, focused more on value for money, saying: “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.
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.”
‘Money trap’
Clay Cary, senior trends analyst and retail expert at CouponFollow, listed the following:
Greeting cards: He said these were “one of the largest money traps” which “can be easily avoided by finding the same thing, if not better” at bargain stores or buying online in bulk.
Batteries: “Batteries are almost always overpriced at the grocery store. You can buy multipacks from Costco or Amazon for a way better price.”
Spices and seasonings: He said the prices of spices at the supermarket can be “through the roof” and that you can find larger containers at an international store or online.
Pre-cut fruits and vegetables: “There’s a price to be paid when it comes to convenience. Cut-up produce can be twice to three times the price of whole fruits and vegetables, and it also has a shorter shelf life. You can get a lot more value out of your groceries by preparing them at home.”
Name-brand cleaning supplies: “Supermarkets tend to promote name-brand cleaning products at a premium price. Instead of falling victim to these prices, you can achieve the same results using generic products or even make your own using things like vinegar and baking soda.” Additionally, you can find off-brand products… at a chain like Aldi.”
‘Unnecessary or even harmful’
Chemist Click superintendent pharmacist, Abbas Kanani, 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 cautioned against high-dose vitamins and “health” supplements, saying: “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.”
