Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. spare (v.) [spair] – to save from experiencing something
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. spare (v.) [spair] – to save from experiencing something
Example: Despite the poor
economy, the company’s employees were spared
from being fired.
2. recall (n.) [ri-kawl] – to request or demand that something be returned
Example: The government
announced a recall of a medicine that
had a dangerous side effect.
3. outbreak (n.) [out-breyk] – the sudden spread of a disease; an increased presence of a disease among people
Example: Doctors were not
prepared for the outbreak of the
virus.
4. foodborne (adj.) [food bawrn, bohrn] – coming from food
Example: Children easily get foodborne illnesses.
5. urge (v.) [urj] – to force or convince to do something
Example: The manager urged the employees to work overtime.
Article
Read the text below.
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food testing program was temporarily spared after government budget cuts nearly closed it down.
The testing program
screens thousands of crops each year, preventing food contaminated with
bacteria from reaching the public. They are responsible for recalls of lettuce, tomatoes and
other food products from grocery stores.
But President
Barack Obama‘s suggested budget has put the program at risk of being shut
down.
Public health
officials argued that without the testing program, the causes of outbreaks and other foodborne illnesses cannot be studied.
According to statistics, one-third (1/3) of major foodborne illnesses last
year were caused by contaminated fruits and vegetables.
Dr. Robert Tauxe,
the top food-germ researcher of the US Center for Disease Control and
Prevention's, emphasized that the program cannot be replaced with tests done
by private companies.
On the other hand,
industry leaders from United Fresh Produce Association and other major trade
groups are urging the government
to stop the program and let private sectors do food testing. Recalls have
cost farmers and growers millions of dollars in losses. They want more
testing to prove their products are safe, since the USDA’s program currently only
tests products that have already left farms.
The food testing
program will operate until December. Meanwhile, the USDA is still struggling to
fund the program. The program needed $4.3 million to run last year.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do you think the food testing program should
continue? Why or why not?
·
How does your
government ensure that food sold in market is clean and safe to eat?
Discussion B
·
What should a government spend a large budget
on (e.g., health/food safety, education, infrastructure, etc.)? Please explain
your answer.
·
What do you think the government should spend a
smaller budget on? What makes you say so?