品牌与平替：英语精读讲义

People often stereotype generic brands as less tasty, 短語搭配

人们常常先入为主地认为普通品牌没那么好吃，

of poor quality, or less effective than their brand name counterparts.

质量较差，或不如对应的知名品牌有效。

But given that trusted brands demand more of your money, 語法

但既然值得信赖的大品牌会让你多花钱，

is there really a difference between brand name

那么知名品牌的

and generic food or drugs?

食品或药品与普通品牌的同类产品之间真的有区别吗？

When it comes to food,

说到食品，

while there are many companies dedicated to producing generic brands,

虽然有很多公司专门生产普通品牌商品，

the truth is that many large brand name manufacturers 表達脈絡

但事实上，许多大型知名品牌制造商

often use their excess capacity and expertise 用詞

也常常利用自己的闲置产能和专业技术

to produce generic label products as well.

来生产贴有普通品牌标签的产品。

In fact,

事实上，

In 2007, the Peter Pan brand of peanut butter

2007年，Peter Pan品牌的花生酱

was found to be contaminated with salmonella and recalled,

被发现受到沙门氏菌污染并遭到召回，

and as a result, Walmart's Great Value brand of peanut butter 表達脈絡

因此，沃尔玛旗下Great Value品牌的花生酱

was also taken off the shelves. 短語搭配

也被下架了。

Next time you're at the grocery store, 語法

下次去超市时，

try and compare the ingredient list and nutritional information 語法

不妨比较一下配料表和营养成分信息，

of a generic item with its brand counterpart.

看看普通品牌商品与对应的知名品牌商品有何异同。

Even if they aren't identical, which they sometimes are, 語法

即使两者并不完全相同（有时倒是一模一样），

it will give you a sense of how similar they can be. 短語搭配

你也能从中看出它们可以有多么相似。

And studies show that on average

而研究表明，平均来看，

generic brands run 30% cheaper. 用詞

普通品牌要便宜30%。

Furthermore,

此外，

Many staple food products like sugar and salt 用詞

糖和盐等许多主食类产品

are regulated by the FDA. 文化背景

都受到美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）的监管。

And think about it,

再想想看，

table salt, also known as sodium chloride,

食盐，也就是氯化钠，

only contains two elements from the periodic table.

只含有元素周期表中的两种元素。

How variable could it really be? 表達脈絡

它还能有多大差别呢？

Think they taste different? 語法

觉得它们尝起来不一样？

Fancier brand name packaging may play a role. 短語搭配

知名品牌更精美的包装可能会影响你的判断。

In one study, university students were given free coffee 語法

一项研究给大学生提供了免费咖啡，

and asked to rate it.

并让他们为咖啡评分。

It turns out that if the cream and sugar 講解

结果发现，如果奶精和糖

were placed in fancy containers on a silver tray

被装在银托盘上的精美容器里，

versus placed in Styrofoam cups

而不是装在泡沫塑料杯里，

with haphazardly written labels,

杯上还贴着随手乱写的标签，

they would prefer the fancy brew,

他们就会更喜欢那杯看起来更高级的咖啡，

despite the coffee being the exact same. 語法

尽管咖啡本身完全相同。

The placebo effect can be quite strong 文化背景

安慰剂效应可能相当强大，

when it comes to your taste preferences.

尤其是在口味偏好方面。

But when it comes to drugs, 表達脈絡

但说到药品，

things are a little different.

情况就有些不同了。

In fact, generic drugs have to be the same as the brand name. 語法

事实上，仿制药必须与品牌药相同。

For example, ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug 用詞

例如，布洛芬是一种非甾体抗炎药，

that treats headaches, fevers, and minor aches and pains. 短語搭配

可用于治疗头痛、发烧和轻微的身体疼痛。

It's also sold under brand names like Advil and Nurofen. 短語搭配

它也以Advil和Nurofen等品牌名销售。

But at the base of these pills is the exact same thing,

但这些药片的核心成分完全相同：

200 mg of ibuprofen,

200毫克布洛芬，

the same dosage, safety, strength, and intended use. 用詞

剂量、安全性、药效强度和预期用途也都相同。

The generic drugs go through a series of stringent regulatory testing 短語動詞

仿制药要经过一系列严格的监管测试，

to prove their bioequivalence to the brand name. 用詞

以证明它们与品牌药具有生物等效性。

The only way in which the pills may differ

这些药片唯一可能不同的地方

is between their filler ingredients, 用詞

是它们所用的填充成分，

which may include starch or gelatin,

其中可能包括淀粉或明胶，

flavoring, and different colors.

以及调味剂和不同的色素。

So while they aren't exactly the same,

所以，虽然它们并非完全一样，

they are effectively the same. 用詞

但实际效果是相同的。

And studies routinely prove that generic drugs

而且，研究一再证明，仿制药

are as effective as the brand name. 語法

和品牌药一样有效。

In fact, some studies show that individuals are more likely

事实上，一些研究表明，人们反而更有可能

to stay on course with generic drugs 習語

坚持按疗程服用仿制药，

because of the lower cost.

因为仿制药价格更低。

Of course, there are some very specific drugs 表達脈絡

当然，也有一些非常特殊的药物

that have a narrow therapeutic index 用詞

治疗指数很窄，

which require certain brands.

因而需要使用特定品牌。

In these cases, a doctor can help you decide.

在这些情况下，医生可以帮你做决定。

And yet, many people still remain skeptical. 表達脈絡

尽管如此，很多人仍持怀疑态度。

In one study, participants were given painkillers

在一项研究中，参与者服用了所谓的止痛药，

that were actually just blank placebo pills

其实只是没有有效成分的安慰剂药片，

and administered a small electric shock.

随后还接受了轻微的电击。

When they were told that the pill cost 10 cents,

当他们被告知药片只要10美分时，

only 61% of people felt pain relief.

只有61%的人感觉疼痛有所缓解。

But if they were told that the pill cost $2.50,

但如果他们被告知药片价值2.50美元，

a whole 85.4% of participants claimed 講解

足足有85.4%的参与者声称

to feel relief from the pain.

疼痛得到了缓解。

At the end of the day, generic products, 習語

归根结底，普通品牌产品，

whether food, drugs, or otherwise, 語法

无论是食品、药品还是其他产品，

can be but aren't always equal

有可能、但并不总是能和

to their brand name counterpart.

对应的知名品牌产品达到同等水平。

So save those dollar bills and buy something special.

所以把这些钱省下来，买点特别的东西吧。

We actually put together our own taste test

其实，我们还自己做了一场口味测试，

to see if anyone could tell the difference

看看有没有人能分辨出

between their favorite brands and the generic counterpart

自己最爱的品牌和对应普通品牌之间的差别，

in our new AsapTHOUGHT video.

测试过程就在我们全新的AsapTHOUGHT视频中。

Use the link in the description to see that video

点击简介中的链接即可观看该视频，

and subscribe for more weekly science videos.

并订阅我们的频道，每周收看更多科学视频。