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Cambridge Diet

Cambridge Diet Review (UPDATED 2025): Don't Buy Before You Read This!

A liquid diet that may be too calorie restrictive for long-term success.

Top Rated Diets of 2025
What is it?

The Cambridge Diet is a weight loss program offering pre-packed meals, counseling, and low calorie meal suggestions. It’s considered a VLCD, which means it’s a very low calorie diet.

One can select between 415 to 1500 calories depending on one’s weight loss goals, gender, and tolerance. Consultants are offered not just to guide, but to recommend what calorie limit one should follow. There have been numerous diets observed by our experts, and the highest rated one has been  the 18Shake Diet. It offers a diet pill and meal replacement shakes that aim to reduce appetite for hours, all while providing fat burning effects with its all natural ingredients. More information about the 18Shake Diet can be seen in the link here.

Do You Know the Best Diets of 2025?

Cambridge DietIngredients and Side Effects

Here are some noteworthy ingredients added to their prepackaged foods:

Skimmed Milk Powder

Maltodextrin

Guar Gum

Refined Fractionated Palm Oil

Acesulfame K

Sucralose

Carrageenan

Flavourings

Dried Glucose Syrup

Silicon Dioxide

Oligofructose

 

Guar Gum:Fiber extract taken from the guar plant. It’s used as a general thickener in processed foods, as well as a laxative.  It can promote side effects that include:

         • Diarrhea, gas, and loose stools.

         • Indigestion, nausea, and stomach pains.

Acesulfame K: Artificial sweetener around 200 times sweeter than standard sugar. A study by PLOS One found that:

“Long-Term Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame Potassium Alters Neurometabolic Functions”

This study showed that in mice there was an effect on insulin and leptin levels.  The same study added:

“chronic use… could affect cognitive functions, potentially via altering neuro-metabolic functions”

It also has shown the potential for other side effects according to a review by the Oxford Journals:

“long-dated function on the adult’s sweet preference”

This study was conducted on mice that were given their mother’s breast milk or amniotic fluid in birth, and their preference for sweets changed.

Sucralose: Artificialsweetener that can be around 1,000 times much sweeter than sugar. It has been used controversially since some studies have shown it to be potentially dangerous. One such study was performed by Duke University and it revealed:

“numerous adverse effects”

“reduction in beneficial fecal microflora, increased fecal pH, and enhancedexpression levels of P-gp”

This means the body considers it a toxin, and it reduces healthy bacteria which helps support the immune system according to this clinical study.

Carrageenan: Thickener and binder extractedfrom red seaweed.The University of Iowa ran a study which showed:

“carcinogenic properties of degraded carrageenan”

“ulcerations and neoplasms in association with exposure to carrageenan”

This has shown the possibility for causing serious issues in the body.

The link provided here has the top 10 ranked diets of the year.

The types of foods offered by the Cambridge Diet are meal replacement shakes, bars, pasta, rice, soups, desserts, and other snacks. According to the official website:

“products contain the vitamins and minerals you need for balanced nutrition and healthy weight loss”

Most of what one eats will be the prepackaged foods. This can make it easier to handle a caloric loss, as the foods are specially formulated to be lower in calories. There are also 6 steps outlined one must follow, though where one begins depends on what the counselor advises. Here are the steps:

• Sole Source: 3 to 4 prepackaged foods are eaten a day. The Sole Source Plus option allows for 3 prepacked goods alongside meal of 200 calories, or 4 of the companies meals with 200 ml of skimmed milk.

• 2nd Stage: Protein rich meals are added as well as some skimmed milk and vegetables alongside up o Cambridge meals. It’s typically limited to 810 calories a day for a week long period.

• 3rd Stage: 2 of the meals, some milk, and a 1,000 calorie a day limit. This is enforced for 2 weeks.

• 4th Stage: 2 prepackaged meals, some skimmed milk, and more regular meals.

• 5th Stage: One Cambridge meal and breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner for a total of 1500 calories.

• 6th Stage: Once your heathy weight is reached, this stage helps maintain results. One prepackaged meal a day is recommended alongside continued support from a consultant.

It’s unclear whether or not the consultants have any background in diet and nutrition. It’s unlikely however that they use real certified dieticians, which can be potentially dangerous or lead to wrong advice. Our experts have analyzed many diets and have ranked the top 10 in the list here.

EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this diet with a proven meal replacement such as 18 Shake for better results.

Cambridge Diet Quality of Ingredients

Since the beginning of the program asks for a majority of foods to be selected from the company’s prepackaged foods, it’s important for the ingredients to be wholesome.

Unfortunately, they use artificial sweeteners and cheap thickeners often used to replace fiber. These kinds of additives can actually make weight loss harder, as studies have shown they may cause metabolism disorders as well as other side effects.

It’s also difficult to understand what kind of help is provided by the counselors, which remains to be seen whether or not they are actually certified to give health and nutrition advice.  The link provided here has a list of the highest rated diets.

A review on the Cambridge Diet was performed by the British Dietetic Association, and they have listed possible side effects which include:

“bad breathe, a dry mouth, tiredness, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, and constipation”

They also advise for medical support when a person is to receive less than 600 calories, which some plans offered by the company suggest only 450 calories a day. It’s unclear if the counselors offer any support for this type of reduction in calories.

The Price and Quality of Cambridge Diet

The price depends more on how often once decides to use the prepackaged meals. The official website states it will cost per week 48.30 pounds, which rounds to a weekly price of $63.46. Since this is a UK based plan, no consultations are available outside the US. In fact, on the official site there is a map where support and availability is offered, and there are no listings for the US.

The quality of meals is poor, as the additives included are often found in processed foods. It can also be expensive to have to keep using the company’s foods, as the final stage of maintenance requires one pre-packaged meal a day.

Business of Cambridge Diet

The contact information for the diet is as follows:

Phone Number: (44)(0) 1536 403344

Address:Stafford House, 10 Brakey Road

                   Corby, Northants, NN17 5LU

Email: [email protected]

The official website lists how to become a paid consultant for the company. Nowhere in the job skills is there any notice for people to have a background in health and nutrition. The company only asks for people with a background in sales who are organized and can plan ahead.

This means that it’s likely the people who are meant to give support have no skills in helping people with weight loss. The link cited here has the top 10 ranked diets.

EDITOR’S TIP: The top 10 list of the best diets is available here.

Customer Opinions of Cambridge Diet

Here are some direct quotes from user reviews:

“not the best diet health wise… nails went brittle thin, hair began to thin rapidly”

“never felt full, I always felt hungry”

“Having a bad time with motivation”

“the first few days are the hardest”

Though there were some weight loss results for people, there were also issues due to a lack of calories. Many felt weakened, less energetic, and much more fatigued than usual.

Some also had symptoms that are clear signs of nutrient deficiencies such as brittle and weak nails, thin hair, and increased stress. This was often the case for people who attempted this diet. 

The top 10 ranked diet plans can be seeninthe link provided here.

Conclusion - Does Cambridge DietWork?

The Cambridge Diet is similar to other diet plans which offer pre-packaged foods. There’s also counseling offered, but it’s clear that the support is from people who are more business people rather than nutrition experts. Many of the foods offered have processed ingredients, though they are low in calories. Reviews have been mixed with some experiencing health issues and hunger. Though a low calorie plan like this can work, any reduction in calories can result in weight loss. There’s nothing special added to the prepackaged foods which isn’t found in a standard processed meal.

Our experts have performed many reviews and have discovered that the most effective diet is the 18Shake Diet. It provides a combination of a meal replacement and a diet pill. They both provide only natural ingredients, no stimulants, and no unwanted artificial or additives. Its effects include appetite suppression, increased fat burning, and more. When used together it enhances weight loss at a faster rate. Customers have also left positive testimonials on the official website.

The 18Shake Diet is also supported by a full 30 day money back guarantee. This allows for people to try this product risk free, and with no questions asked. More information about the specifics of the 18Shake Diet is available here.

How Does Cambridge Diet Compare?
  • Product Name
  • User Rating
  • Easy to follow
  • Cheap Price
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  • Cambridge Diet
  • 35 /100
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(Page 31 of 59, 1175 total comments)

Jo

29/07/08) Hi sorry not been back on since i last wrote on here when i was on day 4. I got weighed on 25th July after first week and lost 9lbs in my 1st wk, chuffed. Hope to do even better this week. I have bin drinking Coke Zero this week hope its does not change my weight loss. Had 2 slices of cheese and i ate a burger on friday night (no bun or anythin) still in Ketosis though but no more cheating from me. everyone is great on here and i aim to come back on and let you know how i get on on Fri. Keep up the good work everyone we can all do it!!!!!!! J x

posted Jul 29th, 2008 11:41 am


jackie68

(29th july 08) hi every1, i am on my second day of ss and so far everything goin ok i am just havin my banana shake its yummy,i had choc-mint last nite that was lovely my fav so far, but omg i had chicken+mushroom soup 4 my dinner yesterday i cud of thrown up its was horrible i just had 2 throw it i coudnt stomach it lol, i av got a slight headache but nothing i cant cope with I WANT TO LOSE THE WEIGHT!!! i weighed my self this morning and my scales sed i lost 3lb that cant be right can it in 1 DAY?, i no i am only on my second day but so far i am not missing food cus 2 full on these shakes hope that continues as i have 2 cook for 4 kids and my fella lol, thats it 4 now i will post again wen i have tested on thurs 2 see if i am in ketosis, goodluck everyone and keep at it xxxx

posted Jul 29th, 2008 8:34 am


Lizzie

28.07 - Hi everyone. I'm on day 3 of ss and so far have felt fine. No nasty headaches but I did have a moment of feeling lightheaded on the train this morning but drank some water and I felt fine again. Have like every shake and soup so far except the brocolli and cheese - yuk!! I haven't felt hungry yet but have found it difficult watching other people eat around me - I could have killed my boyfriend when he came to bed last night with 2 pieces of peanut butter toast - my absolute fave!!! I've 2.5 stone to lose and can't wait to weigh in on Thursday and see how I'm doing. The horrible diet breath has kicked in now which I hope means I am in ketosis but did mean that I found my partner sleeping at the other end of the bed this morning lol!!! My councillor told me that you can have a small amount of sugar free gum but not to chew for very long as it can produce stomach acid which could (worst case senerio) result in an ulceur... has anybody else been told this? Anyway it's really inspiring to hear everybodies stories and makes me feel as tho I'm not in it alone. Good luck to everyone xxx

posted Jul 28th, 2008 9:11 am


cheeky

hi guys hope you have all had a gud week and weekend? i so could have had an icecream yesterday with this lovely hot weather we have been having but i didnt i was good! i was weighed on sat and i lost 6lbs and 4inches which i was very pleased with still got more to go!!

posted Jul 28th, 2008 9:11 am


Lizzie

Hi everyone. I'm on day 3 of ss and so far am feeling fine. No nasty headaches but I did have a little moment of light headedness on the train this morning but just drank some water and felt better again. So far I've not felt hungry but could have killed my boyfriend when he came to bed last night with 2 pieces of peanut butter toast - my fav!!!! I've 2 1/2 stone to lost and reading everyone's comments is so inspiring and makes you feel not alone. I think the main thing i'm going to struggle with is no acohol as my social life is mostly meeting friends for drinks. Think my smelly diet breath has kicked in tho and I found my boyfirend sleeping at the other end of the bed this morning lol!! My councillor told me that you can have a bit of sugar free gum if you need to but not to chew it for very long as it can build acid in your stomach which could (worst case senerio) turn in an ulcuer. A few mins of chewing is fine but then spit it out. Good luck to everyone and I can't wait to weigh in on Thursday x

posted Jul 28th, 2008 9:11 am


jane

hi every one - well this is it - the big test of time!!. I have lost 3 stones in 3 months and am now going on holiday for 2 weeks, and taking my product with me for breakfast and lunch, and then having a meal out on the night. Last year i put on about 1 and a half stones in two weeks, so im hoping this year it will be different. Have made an appointment with my councillor for the day i get back, and hopefully i will get back on to it straight away. Still have many more stones to loose, but cant tell you how great i feel - especially as i am now being able to shop for clothes in other stores, rather than just evans!!. Good luck to everyone, and keep up the good work x

posted Jul 28th, 2008 9:11 am


hayley

Hi everyone. I am at the end of day 6 on Sole Source and going for my first weigh in tomorrow. My friend recommended this to me and tried to convince me that all the shakes tasted "just like mcdonalds". After my first day I rang her to tell her she was talking rubbish but amusingly today I tried a Strawberry Shake and instantly came out with " oh my god it tastes like angel delight" lol. I guess it is just a case of getting used to them. I was naughty tonight and had a bite of white fish of my friends plate. I know... I know not cool... but rather than make me hungrier it actually satisfied a major food craving and made me think " right I have had a treat now and I don't want anymore". I must say I don't really feel any different apart from quite tired and weaker than normal but I'm hoping that will go soon. I've also become covered in spots which I suppose is all the nasty toxins and rubbish coming out. Also I am on the Depo contraceptive jab and have been bleeding for about 3 days (is this just where my body is going into a bit of shock?). My family are pretty evil and insist on still having KFC and Fish n Chips which I would like to kill them for while I'm sat with my soup. I have about 7 stone to lose and hope my weigh in goes well tomorrow!

posted Jul 25th, 2008 5:51 pm


jackie68

(25th july)hi everyone i am really looking forward to starting this i go away in 7 weeks and hoping to lose at least 1 an alf stone b4 i go(am i hoping to much lol)i dont start till monday but i have been drinking alot more water to prepare for it, i no a few ppl who have been on cd and lost alot of weight in a short amount of time hope i am one of them,well i will post on monday on my first day fingers crossed i do ok, keep up the good work evryone you are all inspirations bye jackie68 x

posted Jul 25th, 2008 10:49 am


Sophia

Alison - I am sorry but "smelly breath" is one of the side effects. All you an really do is brush your teeth more often or use a mouth wash or spray. Chewing gum will stimulate your gastric juices and perhapse make you feel hungry. Hopefully given a bit of time things will settle down. Drinking more water should help a bit also. Stick with it we are all in the same boat, at least you know you will be in Ketosis that I think is what makes your breath smell. Good Luck !!

posted Jul 25th, 2008 10:49 am


Troopersue

25/08/08 - 10.10am. Hi everyone. Well done to all newbies on your great losses, youre doing brilliantly. My weight stayed the same this week (bugger). Like JACKIE I too have been feeling a bit "off". Even went to see my doc incase my thyroid meds needed adjusting, had blood tests done but nope - thyroid is fine so its just me I guess. Had a somewhat squiffy head and felt pretty sick for a few days. No idea why, but feel fine again now thank goodness. KATE - yes my bruising is fine now thanks, Im still taking me Vit K tablets, 2 a day infact and im bruising lovely. lol. No, seriously I dont have a single bruise now so its certainly done the trick. JACKIE68. Glad I make ya laugh :-) and lots of luck with your diet starting on Monday 28th. Dont forget to pop back here and let us know how its going will you ? I want to hear all about it. My counsellor is on hols now so its gonna send me one of two ways. 1) I shall be soooo good she will be well pleased with my loss or 2) cheat at the start of her hols, so she doesnt know, then get back to the serious stuff before she returns. Anyone got a coin ?? lol. Ive still got this wretched pain in my right thigh. Its so annoying. If it wasnt for that I could maybe do a little bit of exercise that would help speed up my weight loss just a bit. But then I think well if god had meant me to touch my toes he wouldve put them a lot higher up my body - so think ill give the whole exercise thing a miss for now !!. I swear some things in life are sent to upset me (like exercise) or if they dont upset me then they just plain puzzle me..... Like the word Mammogram, whats that all about ? who on earth thought up the word mammogram ? does anyone know ?. Its a stupid word, everytime I hear it, I think im supposed to put my breast in an envelope and send it to someone . lol. The smoking patch is another thing. Smoking patch ? it doesnt smoke at all does it ? and I swear the only way that smoking patches work is if you put six of em over your mouth !! Talking of your mouth, isnt it amazing how many hundred of diets are reviewed on this site ? I never knew there was so many. Low fat, low GI, Bikini diet etc. such a minefield of information. Once ive reached my target weight I think theres only one sure fire way to keep the weight off and thats - "if it tastes good - spit it out". lol. Its not just diets the world has gone crazy on though. In the 60's people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird they take prozac to make it normal. lol. And on that note I better be off folks, Stay focused, stay hungry and do remember my new rule - if it tastes good, spit it out !!!!. Toodle-pip, Sue x

posted Jul 25th, 2008 10:49 am


sue1967

hi 2 every1 ..well its my 1st weigh in 2morrow and fingers crossed ive done ok.i havent weighed myself cos i threw out my scales cos every diet i have been on ive obsessed and kept weighin myself 2 or 3 times a day ..so they had 2 go... well done every1 who lost this week and alison ive got the smelly breath 2 lol its the lack of food i think ketosis..my hubby sed halitosis lol..got a sqirty breath freshner and its ok ... let u know 2moz about the weigh in :)

posted Jul 25th, 2008 10:49 am


alison

i started cd last week lost 8 lb been ok but breath a bit smelly anyone the same

posted Jul 24th, 2008 10:13 am


Kelly

Well i put on a 1lb which i was expecting i just hope i can get back into it now...i seem to have a good day and then a bad day its really frustrating!!! welcome to all the new comers and good luck! Keep up the good work everyone!

posted Jul 24th, 2008 10:13 am


suz

Hi everyone.... ok have jus been weighed n in 5 days ive lost 6 1/2 lbs.....1 1/2 off me bust, 1 1/2 off me waist n 2 off me butt n thats in 5 days and ive jus come on....so mayb retaining water! will b my 2nd week really now and im findin it tougher than the 1st - bizzare...food is everywhere n ssssooooooo appealing...things i didnt even realise i was bothered about likefruit.....oh my days! wish me luck !!!

posted Jul 23rd, 2008 3:49 pm


Sibelle

Hi Everyone, I'm on day 9 of the diet and lost 8lb on my first week which I am fairly pleased with. sue1967 i also get hunger pangs sometimes at night and cope by having a quarter of one of the cambridge bars if it is really bad (i think you are not supposed to have bars in the first week though) Also, drink some water when you feel hungry, it does actaully make you feel better! Hopefully in time the pangs will pass. I really appreciate all your comments as it keeps me going. Most days I have felt really great and energetic, but today has been a hard day, my energy is really low and I feel very hungry! But the thought of finally losing all the weight keeps me going. Good luck everyone!!

posted Jul 23rd, 2008 3:49 pm


carrie

ok lunch was fine cos guess what they messed my order up! so didn't eat anything and had to leave the restuarant as the service was sooo slow!! lol ha ha but hey it is a good thing really i suppose!! ha ha!! x

posted Jul 23rd, 2008 3:49 pm


carrie

SURFHUNNY: That is exactly what I want to try and do, I think I will always have a box of cambridge in my cupboard, and if I start to feel like i'm losing control I will replace breakfast and lunch with a shake etc. I got 6llbs to go now! But going out for lunch with work today, so a bit worried! Don't want to go crazy! I am going to just have protien, no bread etc :-( but if I can not put any wieght on today that will be great! i'll let you know how I get on at lunch time! It is going to be a test! x

posted Jul 23rd, 2008 3:49 pm


Jackie

(23/7/2008 - 10:45am) Hi All! I've been having a funny couple of weeks! Ive been quite ill, bad headaches etc (Not connected to the diet!) So have been having one meal a day to go with tablets I have been taking etc. I am planning to go back on SS on 28th. Put on 2lbs, but I can live with that! JACKIE68 - Your listings dont go on straight away! They take a little time. CARRIE you are doing SO well! I can't believe how close you are to your goal! I'm still about 6 stone away! But hey, I'm still 3 stone down in 63 days. Cannot complain. To all you newbies - WELCOME! Keep at it, keep writing! I'll hope to put a more thorough listing next time! x

posted Jul 23rd, 2008 3:49 pm


jackie68

hi everyone i tried to post but dont no if it went thru cus it didnt come on, anyway i shud be starting the cd on monday 28th july goin to see my councilor on sunday really enjour reading your posts so look forward to that wen i start to keep me motivated thats it for now and see you all monday for my 1st day on ss, jackie x

posted Jul 22nd, 2008 9:46 pm


sue1967

hi every1 just came across this site and wat a gr8 bunch u all are and well done! im on day 3 and starving at nite hope it passes hoping i do as well as all of u. keep it up!!!

posted Jul 22nd, 2008 9:46 pm



 

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BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND Start the Diet Now Advertisement

With new diets hitting the market faster than we can lose a pound, it is not too often that you stumble upon a diet that has been around for more than 20 years. The Cambridge Diet has proudly clocked some years under its svelte belt. Developed in the 80s, it still enjoys a very loyal and passionate audience of dieters who have been successful at losing weight and keeping it off.

It is a liquid diet program that involves drinking 3 servings of the signature Cambridge Diet formula each day with or without food. The three servings provide you with protein (either 30 or 50 grams), carbohydrates, fat, fiber and your daily-required vitamin and mineral allowances.

About ten years ago, the Cambridge Diet added an additional product to their 330 Original Product. The 420 Food for Life product contains 100% of the required daily protein needs in 3 servings whereas the 330 Product contains 75% of the required protein. The protein source comes from whey and soy. Both of them are nutritional supplements that do not contain drugs, medicine, stimulants or herbs.

There are four ways for you to follow the Cambridge Diet: - The Fast Track: Consume 3-4 servings of Cambridge a day and no additional food. - The Alternate Program: Use 3-4 servings of Cambridge for one day with no food and then the following day, consume 3 servings of Cambridge with the addition of 400-800 calories of low fat, low calorie health food. Continue to alternate in this manner. - The Regular Program: Eat 3 servings of Cambridge 15- 20 minutes prior to each low calorie meal. Calories should not exceed 400-800 for the entire day. - The Regular Program 2: Consume 3 servings of Cambridge and eat one meal of low calorie food each day. Calories should not exceed 400- 800 calories for the entire day.

Do You Know the Best Diet Pills of 2025?

PROPRO
  • Cambridge Diet contains all the essential nutrients
  • Has a proven success rate
  • Safe for diabetics and those with high blood pressure
CONCON
  • Its limited consumption of food may incite excessive eating
  • May be too calorically-restrictive for some individuals
  • Does not teach you to eat in a healthy and long-term way
  • Long-term weight loss may not be sustained
  • Calories might be too restrictive for exercise
DIET and NUTRITIONDIET and NUTRITION

The foundation of the Cambridge Diet is its signature line of shakes. They come in an array of flavors like chocolate, vanilla, eggnog, strawberry, cappuccino, banana cream and many more. The shakes come in two styles: The Original and the Food for Life.

The Food for Life product contains 51 grams of protein, 54 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fat and 140 calories per shake. It also includes 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamins and minerals. The Original contains 31 grams of protein and contains about 110 calories per shake.

There is also a line of additional Cambridge products like soups, nutrition bars, and super oats.

When taken the prescribed three times a day, you'll only consume 420 calories. If you select to follow a plan that allows for food, you should not consume anymore than an additional 800 calories a day and these calories should come from low-calorie and low-fat foods like vegetables and lean proteins. If you are on the smaller side, it is recommended that you only consume an additional 400 calories on top of the 420 calories for the Cambridge products.

You are also strongly encouraged to drink at least 3-4 liters of water each day.

EXERCISEEXERCISE

Since the Cambridge Diet is so restrictive, exercise should be done cautiously. It is not recommended to start a new strenuous exercise program while on the Cambridge Diet. Moderate exercise like walking or biking is useful once you start to lose weight, providing that it is approached with caution and not done with excess.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

There is no question that The Cambridge Diet has been around for a long time. And in the process, many have had luck losing weight by following its strict dietary regimen. Since the diet is so low in calories, check with your doctor before starting it, especially if you have an existing medical condition.

The Cambridge Diet devotees swear by the diet's ability to help them lose weight as long as the program is followed correctly. But like most diets that rely on shakes or supplements to shed pounds, its potential for long-term weight loss and for instilling sound and healthy eating habits in you is not that promising.

Common MisspellingsCommon Misspellings

cambrdge Diet, cambradge diet, cambridge deit, camebridge diet, cambridge liquid diet, cambridgediet.com

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