
Health & Fitness
Sliced Bread
BBC Radio 4
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist Sean Farrington examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did people back it? Why did they get burnt? Some of the world’s most successful businesses have also brought us some of the world’s most remarkable failures. So, what led them to be toast? And what can we learn from their stories today? Sean unpicks all the early optimism, hype and ambition. He learns about the tremendous success of a brand before hearing how it faltered, with help from expert commentators and people who were directly involved. How do they view things now and what, if anything, could have been done differently? The self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, is alongside him, analysing the missteps that changed a brand’s fortunes and reaching her own, often instructive, conclusions. From big tech to high street retail and, of course, food, Toast tackles the business ideas that, one way or another, ended up cooked. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in July, 2026. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds. Episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays wherever you get your BBC podcasts. But you can listen to the latest episodes, seven days earlier than anywhere else, first on BBC Sounds.Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4.
Episodi per imparare l'inglese219

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Barefoot Shoes
6 lug 202332 min<p>This is one of your most-requested topics and as a keen runner myself I couldn’t wait to get into it. Barefoot shoes claim to encourage you to run in a more ‘natural’ way, landing on your mid or forefoot rather than on your heel. Some brands say they’ll increase your speed and reduce the likelihood of injury. But will they? </p><p>Listener Sam runs marathons and wants to know if the science backs up the marketing hype. He also wonders whether the wider toebox in barefoot shoes really does allow for our toes to be separated out in a more natural way.</p><p>It’s not just runners who got in touch either; Jon is a dog walker and is interested in wearing barefoot shoes on a more casual basis. Is there any benefit to that? </p><p>And what about children? Listener Zoe already wears barefoot shoes herself but wants to know if they might be good for her son, too. In this episode I speak to experts to weigh up the evidence. Are barefoot shoes the best thing since sliced bread? Or just marketing BS?</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Dog Poo Bags
29 giu 202328 min<p>Owners clearing up after the UK's 11 million estimated pet dogs have a bewildering array of bags from which to choose. </p><p>Some are labelled 'degradable', others are called 'biodegradable', 'compostable and biodegradable' or 'recycled.' </p><p>So which ones are best for the environment? And what is the most environmentally friendly way of disposing of our dogs' doo?</p><p>Greg Foot is on the case on behalf of listeners including Nicola Jones and Craig Hart who are perplexed by the claims being made on dog poo bags. </p><p>If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Jon Douglas</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Cycle Helmets
22 giu 202331 min<p>Which cycle helmets give you the best protection?</p><p>I’m a big fan of cycling and so when listener Migue got in touch wanting to know what cycle helmet he should buy next, I was really keen to investigate.</p><p>Migue wanted to know what factors make a cycle helmet the most effective when it comes to protecting your head: the shape, the material, the fit? He’s seen all sorts of neat tech, including collapsible helmets and ones that fit around your neck and act like airbags! To find out more I speak to an expert at one of the world’s leading helmet testing labs in Virginia, USA.</p><p>And in researching this episode I also discovered there is a hotly-contested debate about whether cycle helmets should be the focus at all when it comes to safety. Some - including the organisation Cycling UK and the charity Sustrans - argue that introducing tougher rules around helmets would mean far more lives lost through physical inactivity than would be saved in protecting from collisions, which are rare. That’s a view shared by Dr Ian Walker from Swansea University, who also features in this episode.</p><p>Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot</p><p>PRODUCER: Simon Hoban “</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 6: UV Sterilisers
15 giu 202328 min<p>During the pandemic, as people sought to protect themselves from Corona Virus, more and more products entered the market claiming to use Ultra Violet light to clean your belongings. These vary from UV wands and lamps, to phone boxes and UV baby bottle sterilisers. You may have seen them advertised online, claiming to kill 99% of viruses and bacteria. But do they deliver, and are they worth it, compared to more traditional methods of cleaning like alcohol wipes, or soap and water... That's what listeners Chris and Ben wanted to know.</p><p>I'll be finding out by speaking to an expert in radiation safety Professor John O'Hagan at Loughborough University and Matt Knight, Product Testing Expert at the consumer group Which?</p><p>Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot</p><p>PRODUCER: Jay Unger</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Outdoor Clothing
8 giu 202329 min<p>If you’ve ever made the mistake of going for a hike wearing just jeans and a t-shirt you’ll know it can be a pretty sweaty, uncomfortable experience. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are myriad products promising to keep you dry, warm and protected from whatever the weather can throw at you. </p><p>Listener Julie is keen to know more about that after she went on an adventure holiday without the right kit, leaving her cold and miserable.</p><p>She’s heard about fabrics that promise to ‘wick away’ the sweat and others that keep you warm in cold weather and cool when it’s hot. And what about the jackets that claim to stop rain getting in yet still be breathable enough to let vapour and sweat out. How does that work?!</p><p>I’ll be finding out by speaking to an expert in textile technology and the Gear Editor from the UK’s best-selling walking magazine.</p><p>Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Reusable Nappies
1 giu 202329 min<p>According to recycling charity Wrap, an estimated three billion nappies are thrown away every year in the UK. Concerns over plastic waste and a want to save money have been driving a rise in the popularity of reusable nappies but, as listener Amy asks, are they really better for the planet, and your pocket? </p><p>Me and the team speak to Wendy Richards, also known as The Nappy Lady. She runs one of the biggest nappy advice and sales websites specialising in reusables. Crunching the numbers with her we look at the complete financial costs of both reusable and disposable nappies, even taking into consideration the extra washing costs needed to clean reusables. </p><p>But what about the environmental impacts of reusable nappies. Are they really better than disposables when you factor in the energy and water used to clean them? That's what we ask Professor Rob Holdway from Brunel University and Giraffe Innovation. Giraffe Innovation recently completed a thorough study - commissioned by DEFRA, the government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - looking at exactly this.</p><p>Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Hay Fever Treatments
25 mag 202334 min<p>What works to help with the symptoms of hay fever?</p><p>The better weather’s here but for the millions who have hay fever that just means a runny nose and itchy, streaming eyes. And for some people it’s seriously debilitating – listener Richard got in touch because his wife can’t go out and play with the kids in the spring and summer months.</p><p> In this episode I’m investigating the treatments that claim to help. I speak to an expert from Allergy UK to find out what works and whether - as listener Lisa wonders - the generic or own-brand versions work as well as the more expensive branded ones. And could a hay fever injection be the one-shot solution Richard’s wife is looking for?</p><p>Also, you might have heard about the gut microbiome…but did you know there’s a nasal microbiome too?! I’m finding out about some new research which shows probiotics could play a role in treating hay fever.</p><p>This series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so if you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Low and No Alcohol Beer
18 mag 202326 min<p>Sales of alcohol-free beer in the UK have more than tripled in the past five years, and you'll find more types of no and low-alcohol beer on sale in your local supermarket. </p><p>But what does 'alcohol-free' really mean? And are these drinks always better for your health? </p><p>Various listeners got in touch with us about this one, so we enlisted the help of two experts to answer their questions. </p><p>Laura Willoughby knows a lot about no/low alcohol beer as co-founder of Club Soda which says it exists "to help people drink more mindfully and live well”. </p><p>Kerry Torrens is a registered nutritionist who has been working in the food and drink sector for two decades. </p><p>Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products, so f you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Jon Douglas</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 6: Snoring Products
11 mag 202326 min<p>Research suggests four in 10 of us do it and it can even get so bad it’s been blamed for the breakdown of relationships. Snoring can be a living nightmare for you and your partner. But what if there was something that works to give you – and the people around you – a more peaceful night’s sleep?</p><p>Listener Neville got in touch with a recording taken by his wife of him snoring – and it’s pretty loud! He’s seen various solutions from throat sprays to nasal strips and even a chinstrap which literally keeps your mouth shut while you sleep. But do any of them actually work? Are they the best thing since Sliced Bread – or marketing BS?</p><p>I speak to experts to find out including an Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon and a scientist who’s looked into the extreme end of snoring. </p><p>Once again this series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Toast - Series 1: Sinclair C5
4 mag 202325 min<p>While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of wonder products and businesses which had promised so much to consumers.</p><p>You can contact us at <a href="mailto:toast@bbc.co.uk">toast@bbc.co.uk</a></p><p>In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea which ended up toast, examining the reasons behind the failure and discovering what can we learn from its story today.</p><p>Sean unpicks all the early optimism, hype and ambition, speaking to expert commentators to discover how they view things now and what, if anything, could have been done differently.</p><p>Sean is assisted by the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, as together they try to work out what went wrong.</p><p>This week, Sean and Sam look into the Sinclair C5 - an electric vehicle from the 1980s which promised to revolutionize personal transport. </p><p>They get a first-hand account of what happened from the former Managing Director of Sinclair Vehicles Ltd, Barrie Wills, and hear how the Isle of Cumbrae became a hotbed for the Sinclair C5....until the little vehicles started breaking down all over the island. </p><p>They also speak to Grant Sinclair - nephew of the C5's inventor, Sir Clive Sinclair - and hear how he has devised a new and very different take on the C5 which he plans to launch soon. </p><p>Presenter: Sean Farrington Producer: Jon Douglas</p><p>Toast is a spin-off from Sliced Bread, the series in which Greg Foot investigates the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread.</p><p>Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in May. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.</p>

Toast - Series 1: Friends Reunited
27 apr 202325 min<p>While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of wonder products and businesses which had promised so much to consumers.</p><p>You can contact us at <a href="mailto:toast@bbc.co.uk">toast@bbc.co.uk</a></p><p>In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea which ended up toast, examining the reasons behind the failure and discovering what can we learn from its story today.</p><p>Sean unpicks all the early optimism, hype and ambition, speaking to expert commentators to discover how they view things now and what, if anything, could have been done differently.</p><p>Sean is assisted by the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, as together they try to work out what went wrong.</p><p>This week, Sean and Sam look into a hugely successful website from a time when most people in the UK were slowly getting used to the internet. </p><p>Friends Reunited provided a unique way for users to reconnect with old school friends.</p><p>It made a fortune for its founders but was closed for good in 2016. Could it still have been successful today? </p><p>Toast is a spin-off from Sliced Bread, the series in which Greg Foot investigates the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread.</p><p>Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in May. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.</p><p>Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4.</p><p>The producers are Jay Unger and Jon Douglas.</p>

Toast - Series 1: Blockbuster
20 apr 202325 min<p>While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of wonder products and businesses which had promised so much to consumers.</p><p>In each episode the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did people back it? Why did they get burnt?</p><p>Some of the world’s most successful businesses have also brought us some of the world’s most remarkable failures. So, what led them to be toast? And what can we learn from their stories today?</p><p>Sean unpicks all the early optimism, hype and ambition. He speaks to expert commentators and to people involved with doomed wonder products to discover how they view things now and what, if anything, could have been done differently.</p><p>Along the way he discovers charming and surprising stories from people who took to these products but lived to regret it and, with the help of self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur Sam White, tries to work out where they went wrong.</p><p>This week, Sean and Sam examine the game and movie rental chain, Blockbuster. </p><p>Its first store opened in 1985 in Dallas, Texas. At its peak in 2004, it had around 9,000 stores globally, was earning nearly $5.9 billion in revenue and employed over 84,000 people worldwide.</p><p>How did it lose its way? Spoiler alert - it wasn't just down to the rise of streaming services like Netflix. </p><p>Toast is a spin-off from Sliced Bread, the series in which Greg Foot investigates the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread.</p><p>Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in May. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.</p><p>Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4.</p>

Toast - Series 1: Olestra
13 apr 202325 min<p>While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of wonder products and businesses which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did people back it? Why did they get burnt? Some of the world’s most successful businesses have also brought us some of the world’s most remarkable failures. So, what led them to be toast? And what can we learn from their stories today? Sean unpicks all the early optimism, hype and ambition. He speaks to expert commentators and to people involved with doomed wonder products to discover how they view things now and what, if anything, could have been done differently. </p><p>Along the way he discovers charming and surprising stories from people who took to these products but lived to regret it and, with the help of self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur Sam White, tries to work out where they went wrong. This week, Sean and Sam look into a fat substitute called Olestra which promised to make savoury snacks healthier. </p><p>With none of the fat and far fewer calories, Olestra sounded like a dieter's dream..... but it didn't turn out that way. </p><p>Toast is a spin-off from Sliced Bread, the series in which Greg Foot investigates the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in May. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4.</p>

Toast - Series 1: Google Glass
6 apr 202326 min<p>From the team behind the hit series, Sliced Bread. </p><p>Sean Farrington investigates wonder products and businesses which promised so much to consumers.... but ultimately ended up toast. </p><p>Sean is joined by the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, to conclude what went wrong. Together they look at why a product or business failed, and what we can learn from their stories today. </p><p>In this episode, Sean talks about wearable tech and Google Glass. </p><p>These futuristic looking spectacles, with a heads-up display which showed text messages and street directions and allowed users to record video footage of what was happening around them, were named in Time Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2012. </p><p>There was plenty of hype. Google even demonstrated them by live-streaming a sky dive using Google Glass.</p><p>But by 2015, just two years after their release, Google announced that Google Glass Explorer, the consumer version of the glasses, was going to be shelved, and the version used by businesses has since been ditched too. </p><p>Sean and Sam speak to the BBC's former technology correspondent, Rory Cellan Jones, and the 'godfather' of wearable technology, Professor Sandy Pentland from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), to discover how Google Glass went from being the best thing since sliced bread, to toast.</p><p>Presenter: Sean Farrington Producer: Jay Unger</p>

Toast - Series 1: Trailer
3 apr 20232 min<p>Greg Foot introduces a new series from the team that brought you Sliced Bread.</p><p>In Toast, Sean Farrington examines the wonder products and businesses that promised so much at launch but ultimately crashed and burned. With the help of industry experts, he asks what went wrong and what - if anything - they could have done differently.</p><p>Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Sourdough
31 mar 202325 min<p>Is sourdough the best thing since Sliced Bread?</p><p>It’s the last episode in the current series so I thought it was about time I investigated this! </p><p>Listener Janet got in touch wanting to know whether sourdough really does live up to the hype. Is it better for our digestive health than other breads? Is it made with fewer additives? And do the cheaper sourdough loaves we can buy in the supermarket really cut it - or are they just ‘sourfaux’?</p><p>To find out, I went to a baking school to make a sourdough loaf from scratch, learning about the process and ingredients that go to make the sort of sourdough you’d find at an artisan or traditional bakers - and might cost over five pounds.</p><p>And I speak to one of the world’s leading nutritional experts on bread to find out which types we should eat for our health.</p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Mascara
23 mar 202326 min<p>Mascara is a crucial element of many a make-up bag - but can mascaras really deliver on their promises of longer, fuller, or curlier lashes? </p><p>Listener Kath got in touch to ask exactly that. She also wants to know if you pay more for mascara, do you get better results? How should we remove it - and what about waterproof products that are tough to take off? Are we potentially damaging our lashes? </p><p>Greg Foot sets his sights on investigating by recruiting some regular mascara wearers to try out differently priced products, as well as speaking to a consultant dermatologist and cosmetic chemist to find out. </p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Toothpaste
16 mar 202326 min<p>Do toothpastes promising to repair enamel and help with sensitive teeth really work?</p><p>We've all been there - you go down the supermarket aisle to grab toothpaste and suddenly you’re faced with an ocean of the stuff, all promising to do different things. Buzz-phrases like ‘protect’ and ‘repair’ all vie for your attention. But just what are the ingredients in all these different toothpastes? And do they live up to the marketing hype?</p><p>In this episode we hear from three listeners keen to find out: Bernadette has sensitive teeth, Deirdre is concerned about her enamel and Melvyn wants to protect his gums. Can presenter Greg Foot find a toothpaste that will work for them and leave them all smiles?</p><p>This series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Herbal Sleep Aids
9 mar 202327 min<p>Sleep is never more important than when you aren’t getting any. And there’s a large range of night time teas, herbal tablets and relaxing oils and sprays that promise to help you get some. But can they really deliver?</p><p>Listener Corrine got in touch after struggling with her sleep post menopause, wanting to know if there was any evidence to back up the claims of various natural sleep aids. Can they give her the restful night’s sleep she craves – or is it just a waste of money? She sets Greg Foot the job of finding out, by speaking to an expert sleep physiologist, as well as a professor in clinical pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology. </p><p>This series we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Mattresses
2 mar 202327 min<p>We spend a lot of time on them so it’s important to get the right mattress. But buying one can be confusing. Some use springs while others are made out of foam - or there’s a combination of both. Then there’s memory foam, with brands like Tempur claiming to make their mattresses out of ‘proprietary’ material. And can a good mattress help to alleviate back pain?</p><p>These are the questions keeping listener Stephen up at night and he tasks presenter Greg Foot with finding out more. Greg speaks to experts in the mattress industry and a sleep specialist, looking at the scientific evidence to test whether the claims made by mattress manufacturers live up to the marketing hype. </p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Conditioners and Heat Protection Products
23 feb 202327 min<p>After the Sliced Bread episode on shampoo, a number of listeners got in touch to request a follow-up episode on conditioners. So of course, we obliged. </p><p>Listener Katie wanted to know what they actually do to our hair, if they can deliver on promises for shinier, smoother, or stronger locks – and whether leave-in treatments could be more effective than conditioners you wash off in the shower? </p><p>Listener Franziska also got in touch, as she wondered if we could also have a look at heat protection products. She wanted to know what’s in them, can they offer our hair any protection while styling, and is there a difference between the effectiveness of sprays or creams? </p><p>Greg Foot rinses out the claims on both, speaking once again to the experts from Shampoo – also available on BBC Sounds. </p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad, and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>Presenter: Greg Foot Producer: Kate Holdsworth</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Bottled Water
16 feb 202327 min<p>Listener Isla, 11, wants to know if bottled water from the UK's biggest selling brands such as Evian and Buxton is cleaner, healthier, cheaper and greener than the stuff that comes from the tap.</p><p>Greg Foot drills down into the subject, investigating the claims made by manufacturers of bottled water. Does it make any difference if water has spent years underground being "filtered by rocks" before being bottled? Are there more minerals in bottled water than in tap? And even though companies are making more of their bottles from recycled plastic, what’s the environmental impact?</p><p>Greg speaks to experts including a lecturer in water chemistry, an environmental NGO and a water sommelier (yes, they’re a thing!) who explains why some bottled water can cost more than a hundred pounds.</p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Painkillers
9 feb 202326 min<p>When it comes to shop-bought painkillers, there are rows and rows of shelves dedicated to them in supermarkets and pharmacies – ranging from own-brand tablets, to more expensive capsules and caplets, as well as branded packets that promise to work faster, and target specific pain. </p><p>Listener Hannah got in touch all the way from Tunisia to ask the questions – what’s the difference between paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin? Can certain painkillers target specific pain? And are any of them able to deliver faster pain relief than others – particularly the pricier branded ones? </p><p>Greg Foot swallows all the information available, and talks to experts in clinical pharmacology and biochemistry to find out. </p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Eco Laundry Products
2 feb 202328 min<p>In this episode presenter Greg Foot investigates three products that promise to make washing your laundry better for the planet.</p><p>Listener Clare wants to know if the Ecoegg she’s using really is a greener alternative to liquid detergent and whether the cleaning pellets inside are harmful to the environment.</p><p>Another listener, Jane, got in touch about laundry sheets – strips of concentrated detergent that go inside the washing machine’s drum. Is the slightly higher cost worth it to cut down on waste?</p><p>And finally Mary wanted to know about filters that capture harmful microfibres which are shed from our clothes in the washing process and get into the environment, causing huge problems for marine life.</p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Petrol
26 gen 202327 min<p>Petrol is something millions of drivers around the UK rely on, but when faced with the choice of what to fill up with at the pumps, many wonder what is the difference between regular and premium unleaded?</p><p>That’s exactly what listener Irfan wanted to know, and if premium can really deliver on its promises to make your car more efficient, take you further, and clean out your engine for a higher price tag. </p><p>Greg Foot drives the investigation into unleaded petrol, what’s changed since we moved from E5 to E10 as our standard, what makes premium special, can it take you further, and whether our carbon footprint is better with one than the other?</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Energy Drinks
19 gen 202327 min<p>Sales of energy drinks are rising and their brightly coloured cans line the shelves of almost every supermarket or grocery store in the UK. But do brands like Monster, Red Bull and Relentless deliver on their promises? </p><p>Listener Syed is a consultant radiologist and says he needs to be on his A-Game in his demanding job. He wants to know if an energy drink would be any better than his usual cup of coffee in helping him stay alert. He's also keen to know more about some of the ingredients they contain - things like taurine, guarana and electrolytes. What exactly do they do? And are energy drinks safe to drink regularly?</p><p>Presenter Greg Foot has a thirst for knowledge and speaks to expert dieticians and cardiologists to find out if energy drinks live up to the hype. Are they the best thing since sliced bread - or marketing BS?</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Shampoo
12 gen 202326 min<p>Shampoo ranges hugely in price, from own brand bottles to premium products that promise to improve your hair, leaving it in better condition, stronger and shinier. But can they really deliver?</p><p>Listener Sophie sent in a WhatsApp to ask just that, as well as whether we should use different shampoos depending on our hair type, if sulphates or parabens could be harmful to our hair, and if shampoo bars can do the job just as well, and be a greener option? </p><p>Greg Foot untangles some of the most common claims by speaking with a clinical Trichologist (someone who has studied the structure, function and diseases of human hair) as well as an expert chemist and pharmaceutical analyst. </p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Cold Defence Nasal Sprays
5 gen 202323 min<p>Two products dominate the market for nasal sprays that claim to reduce symptons of a cold - Vicks ‘First Defence’ and Boots ‘Dual Defence’. But do they work?</p><p>Listener Leah got in touch because she catches lots of colds from her young son and wants to know if they can help her get over them more quickly. She also wants to know if they’re safe to use regularly and how long you should take them for.</p><p>Presenter Greg Foot sniffs out the evidence and talks to a leading expert who’s dedicated most of his career to investigating cold remedies. </p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Batteries
15 dic 202227 min<p>In the run up to Christmas, many parents will be checking on their battery supplies ahead of Santa bringing gifts that require them. But do branded batteries, that promise more power and longer life at a higher price point, really deliver it?</p><p>Listener Peter got in touch asking just that, as well as whether batteries have an expiry date? </p><p>Greg Foot recruits some year 7 pupils and their teacher to help him perform a test to find out, and speaks to one of the country’s leading scientists about what gives a battery more power, or helps it store more energy. </p><p>You can also hear more about the difference between single use, and rechargeable batteries in our longer podcast episode on BBC Sounds. </p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth</p>

Sliced Bread - Series 3: Perfume
8 dic 202229 min<p>Smelling good can come with a hefty price tag with the price of perfumes often getting into the hundreds of pounds. But what if there was a cheaper alternative?</p><p>Listener Callum got in touch because his bottle of expensive perfume is about to run out. Presenter Greg Foot turns his nose to the task, testing so-called 'clone' perfumes which claim to get as close the originals as to be indistinguishable - but for a fraction of the cost. Speaking to an expert perfumer he finds out exactly how the clone houses copy the ingredients of designer perfumes and whether they last as long.</p><p>Do they pass the sniff test? Are they the best thing since sliced bread or just marketing BS?</p><p>This series, we’re testing and investigating your suggested wonder-products. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, drop us an email to <a href="mailto:sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk">sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk</a> or you can send us a voice note to our new WhatsApp number: 07543 306807.</p><p>PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban</p>