【明報專訊】Do you spread your bread with butter or margarine (人造牛油)? A test conducted by the Consumer Council revealed that of the 20 margarine samples, 17 contained glycidol (環氧丙醇) and 15 contained the contaminant 3-MCPD (氯丙二醇).

Glycidol is a substance thought to cause cancer, so consumers are advised to keep the intake of glycidol as low as reasonably practicable. As for 3-MCPD, it can be produced during high-temperature cooking, and is present in foods such as refined edible oils, bread, cakes, cookies and potato chips, etc. Nevertheless, one need not worry much, as the impact on health is minimal under normal consumption.

Both margarine and butter contain saturated fats (飽和脂肪) and trans fats (反式脂肪). Gordon Cheung, President of Hong Kong Nutrition Association, says that butter would be a slightly better choice as its production process does not include high-temperature cooking, which is likely to produce any glycidol or 3-MCPD.

(Sources: Ming Pao, Consumer Council)

■English highway﹕advise and advice

Don't mix up "advise" the verb, and "advice" the noun.

e.g. Please advise your availability for the meeting.

I need some advice for my project.

■Game １

Pat is comparing the prices of margarine of different brands. Which one is the cheapest? (Hint: since their weights are different, you should compare the unit price instead)

(See picture)

Your answer: ____________

(Answers on next text)

■Game ２

Pat also bought three jams. Read the following riddle and guess which flavour she loves the most.

Its fashionable hair is like weeds

Often in late summer or spring does it breed

On its surface there're the little seeds

After a bite it bleeds

So profusely that I regret my evil deeds

Your answer: ____________

■Glossary

contaminant (n) 污染物

edible (adj) 可食用的

minimal (adj) 極小的

slightly (adv) 略微地

[Smarties' Power English 第216期]