Baking soda
You would think that baking soda is the same everywhere, right? It turns out that even for this simple bare kitchen essential, not all producers are created equal.
You can use it for baking, removing odors, cleaning, even making your own toothpaste. However, the cheaper versions have some heavy metals in them, so they shouldn’t be consumed. After all, brand-name baking soda is often just a few cents pricier. Are you willing to risk your health to save a few cents?