Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What comes to mind when you think about ‘food additives’?
- What are your thoughts or considerations regarding the potential impact of food additives on health and well-being?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- consumer /kuhn-SOO-mer/
- substance /SUHB-stuhns /
- treat /treet/
- adapt /uh-DAPT/
- ban /ban/
[noun] – a person who buys goods or services for their own use
The consumer carefully reads product reviews before making a purchase decision.
[noun] – material with particular physical characteristics
The scientist conducted tests to identify the unknown substance found in the soil sample.
[noun] – a type of food that is eaten in addition to your usual meals, usually something sweet
Every Halloween, children eagerly anticipate receiving a variety of sweet treats, from chocolates to colorful candies.
[verb] – to change, or to change something, to suit different conditions or uses
The plants had to adapt to the dry climate by developing drought-resistant features.
[verb] – to forbid (refuse to allow) something, especially officially
The government decided to ban the use of single-use plastics to reduce environmental pollution.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, recently signed a pioneering law to ban harmful additives, like red dye No. 3 in consumer products. California is the first state in the U.S. to take this step. The law, named the California Food Safety Act or Assembly Bill 418, was supported by groups like the Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports. It prevents the making, selling, or distribution of food items in California containing certain substances. These include potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3. These substances serve different purposes, like enhancing the texture of dough in baked goods or preserving food.
Around 3,000 products, including popular treats like Skittles, Nerds, Trolli gummies, as well as protein shakes, instant rice, and boxed cake mixes, contain red dye No. 3. Governor Newsom pointed out that Skittles are available in the European Union without this additive, showing that the food industry can adapt to meet public health standards. This move aligns the U.S. more closely with EU rules, which have banned these chemicals due to their proven health risks. These risks include a higher chance of cancer, behavioral problems in children, harm to the reproductive system, and damage to the immune system. The law will be put into action in 2027, giving companies enough time to adjust their recipes and ensuring Californians can still enjoy their favorite foods with confidence.
Around 3,000 products, including popular treats like Skittles, Nerds, Trolli gummies, as well as protein shakes, instant rice, and boxed cake mixes, contain red dye No. 3. Governor Newsom pointed out that Skittles are available in the European Union without this additive, showing that the food industry can adapt to meet public health standards. This move aligns the U.S. more closely with EU rules, which have banned these chemicals due to their proven health risks. These risks include a higher chance of cancer, behavioral problems in children, harm to the reproductive system, and damage to the immune system. The law will be put into action in 2027, giving companies enough time to adjust their recipes and ensuring Californians can still enjoy their favorite foods with confidence.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What is the name of the law recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in California?
- Which substances are banned by the California Food Safety Act, also known as Assembly Bill 418?
- What are some examples of popular products that contain red dye No. 3 mentioned in the article?
- How does Governor Newsom highlight the adaptability of the food industry in meeting public health standards?
- When will the California Food Safety Act be put into action?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever looked at the list of ingredients in the food you eat to see if there are any additives, like red dye No. 3? If yes, how did you feel when you found them? If not, would you want to start checking food labels for these additives now that you know about California’s new law? Why or why not?
- Have you or someone you know ever had health issues that might be because of additives like red dye No. 3 or other possibly harmful things in food? If yes, can you tell me a bit about that? If not, has this information changed how you think about food additives?
- Do you think other states in the U.S. should make similar laws to limit possibly harmful things in products people use?
- How do you think the California Food Safety Act will affect the whole food industry in the country, considering how big California’s market is?
- What do you think regular people can do to make companies change how they make their products to follow the new safety rules? How might this change the whole food industry?