名牌與普通品牌：英語精讀講義

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

人們常常先入為主地認為平價品牌比較不好吃，

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

品質較差，或不如相對應的知名品牌有效。

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

但既然值得信賴的大品牌會讓你多花錢，

is there really a difference between brand name

那麼知名品牌的

and generic food or drugs?

食品或藥品，跟平價品牌的同類產品真的有差嗎？

When it comes to food,

說到食品，

while there are many companies dedicated to producing generic brands,

雖然有許多公司專門生產平價品牌商品，

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

但事實上，許多大型知名品牌製造商

often use their excess capacity and expertise 用詞

也常利用多餘的產能與專業技術

to produce generic label products as well.

來生產貼有平價品牌標籤的產品。

In fact,

事實上，

In 2007, the Peter Pan brand of peanut butter

2007年，Peter Pan品牌的花生醬

was found to be contaminated with salmonella and recalled,

被發現遭沙門氏菌污染，因此被召回，

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

結果，Walmart旗下Great Value品牌的花生醬

was also taken off the shelves. 片語搭配

也被下架。

Next time you're at the grocery store, 文法

下次去超市時，

try and compare the ingredient list and nutritional information 文法

不妨比較一下成分表與營養資訊，

of a generic item with its brand counterpart.

看看平價品牌商品和相對應的知名品牌商品有何異同。

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

即使兩者並不完全相同（有時倒是一模一樣），

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

你也能從中看出它們可以有多相似。

And studies show that on average

而研究顯示，平均而言，

generic brands run 30% cheaper. 用詞

平價品牌要便宜30%。

Furthermore,

此外，

Many staple food products like sugar and salt 用詞

糖和鹽等許多主食類產品

are regulated by the FDA. 文化背景

都受到美國食品藥物管理局（FDA）監管。

And think about it,

再想想看，

table salt, also known as sodium chloride,

食鹽，也就是氯化鈉，

only contains two elements from the periodic table.

只含有元素週期表中的兩種元素。

How variable could it really be? 表達脈絡

它還能有多大差異？

Think they taste different? 文法

覺得它們吃起來不一樣嗎？

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

知名品牌更精美的包裝可能會影響你的判斷。

In one study, university students were given free coffee 文法

一項研究提供大學生免費咖啡，

and asked to rate it.

並請他們評分。

It turns out that if the cream and sugar 講解

結果發現，如果奶精和糖

were placed in fancy containers on a silver tray

裝在銀托盤上的精緻容器裡，

versus placed in Styrofoam cups

而不是放在保麗龍杯中，

with haphazardly written labels,

杯上還貼著隨手亂寫的標籤，

they would prefer the fancy brew,

他們就會更喜歡那杯看起來高級的咖啡，

despite the coffee being the exact same. 文法

即使咖啡本身完全相同。

The placebo effect can be quite strong 文化背景

安慰劑效應可能相當強大，

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

但說到藥品，

things are a little different.

情況就有點不同了。

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

事實上，學名藥必須與原廠藥相同。

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

例如，布洛芬是一種非類固醇抗發炎藥，

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

可治療頭痛、發燒和輕微疼痛。

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

它也以Advil和Nurofen等品牌名稱販售。

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

但這些藥丸的核心成分完全一樣：

200 mg of ibuprofen,

200毫克的布洛芬，

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

劑量、安全性、效力與預定用途也都相同。

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

學名藥必須經過一連串嚴格的法規檢驗，

to prove their bioequivalence to the brand name. 用詞

以證明其與原廠藥具有生體相等性。

The only way in which the pills may differ

這些藥丸唯一可能不同的地方

is between their filler ingredients, 用詞

在於所使用的填充成分，

which may include starch or gelatin,

其中可能包括澱粉或明膠，

flavoring, and different colors.

以及調味劑和不同的色素。

So while they aren't exactly the same,

所以，雖然它們並非完全一樣，

they are effectively the same. 用詞

但實際效果是相同的。

And studies routinely prove that generic drugs

而且，研究一再證明，學名藥

are as effective as the brand name. 文法

和原廠藥一樣有效。

In fact, some studies show that individuals are more likely

事實上，有些研究顯示，人們反而更可能

to stay on course with generic drugs 慣用語

持續按療程服用學名藥，

because of the lower cost.

因為學名藥價格比較低。

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

當然，也有一些非常特殊的藥物

that have a narrow therapeutic index 用詞

治療指數很窄，

which require certain brands.

因而必須使用特定品牌。

In these cases, a doctor can help you decide.

在這些情況下，醫師可以幫你做決定。

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

儘管如此，許多人仍抱持懷疑態度。

In one study, participants were given painkillers

一項研究讓參與者服用所謂的止痛藥，

that were actually just blank placebo pills

其實只是沒有有效成分的安慰劑藥丸，

and administered a small electric shock.

接著再讓他們受到輕微電擊。

When they were told that the pill cost 10 cents,

當他們被告知藥丸只要10美分時，

only 61% of people felt pain relief.

只有61%的人覺得疼痛有所緩解。

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

但如果他們被告知藥丸要價2.50美元，

a whole 85.4% of participants claimed 講解

足足有85.4%的參與者聲稱

to feel relief from the pain.

疼痛得到了緩解。

At the end of the day, generic products, 慣用語

說到底，平價品牌產品，

whether food, drugs, or otherwise, 文法

無論是食品、藥品或其他東西，

can be but aren't always equal

有可能、但不一定能和

to their brand name counterpart.

相對應的知名品牌產品達到同等水準。

So save those dollar bills and buy something special.

所以把這些錢省下來，去買點特別的東西吧。

We actually put together our own taste test

其實，我們也自己做了一場口味測試，

to see if anyone could tell the difference

看看有沒有人能分辨出

between their favorite brands and the generic counterpart

自己最愛的品牌與相對應平價品牌之間的差別，

in our new AsapTHOUGHT video.

測試過程就在全新的AsapTHOUGHT影片中。

Use the link in the description to see that video

點擊說明欄中的連結就能觀看該影片，

and subscribe for more weekly science videos.

也別忘了訂閱我們的頻道，每週收看更多科學影片。