【明報專訊】You may have to pay extra attention when choosing cookies or egg rolls for gifts to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Consumer Council tested 58 models of cookies and sweet pastries, and found that all of them were high in sugar or fat, while 46 samples were high in both. Moreover, nearly 90% of the models were found to contain genotoxic carcinogens (基因致癌物).

The Council urged food producers to improve their recipes to minimize contaminants in food products, such as reducing the use of preservatives (防腐劑) and antioxidants (抗氧化劑). Low sugar, low fat, high fibre ingredients were also encouraged in production to give consumers more healthy choices.

Apart from paying attention to the ingredients, the Council reminded the public to make sure the product is not expired when buying. Store the cookies and sweet pastries in a well-ventilated area. After opening the package, it should be resealed to avoid humidity setting in.

sources: Ming Pao, Consumer Council

■English highway﹕set in

If something sets in, especially something unpleasant, it begins and seems likely to continue for a long time.

e.g. Winter has set in very early this year.

■Quiz

(See picture)

1. Name the food products that Bill is eating. (Answers can be found in the passage.)

2. Where should you store the cookies and pastries?

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(Answers on next text)

■Game

MoMo has one basket with four cookies inside. How can she split the cookies equally among the four members of Smarties, and still have one cookie left in the basket, if she's not allowed to cut the cookies in any way?

(See picture)

■Glossary

sweet pastry (n) 甜酥餅

contaminant (n) 污染物

ventilate (v) 使……通風

reseal (v) 再密封

[Smarties' Power English 第238期]