Consumer-products companies like Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) are generally safe bets during economic downturns. Because people will continue to shave, wash their clothes, and feed their pets under any circumstances, P&G will put in a predictable performance. However, some other consumer-products companies, such as Kraft (NYSE: KFT), Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE), and Dean Foods (NYSE: DF), have tumbled recently on commodity cost troubles.