Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What do you usually think of when you hear the word “bacteria”?
- If you could create a rule to help people stay healthy, what kind of rule would you make?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- lower /LOH-er/
- annually /AN-yoo-uh-lee/
- contaminated /kuhn-TA-muh-nay-tuhd/
- current /KUR-uhnt/
- favor /FEY-ver/
[verb] – to make something less in amount, degree, or level
The company wants to lower energy usage by switching to LED lights.
[adverb] – once every year
The event is held annually to celebrate the town’s history.
[adjective] – containing harmful or dirty substances
People were warned not to drink the contaminated water after the flood.
[adjective] – happening or existing now
She is happy with her current job at the design company.
[verb] – to support or prefer one person, group, or idea over another
The new law may favor large businesses over small ones.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
On April 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) decided not to move forward with a proposed rule that would have required poultry producers to lower salmonella levels in their products. The rule was first introduced in August after three years of work. It was designed to reduce infections—about 125,000 from chicken and 43,000 from turkey each year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, salmonella causes roughly 1.35 million illnesses and 420 fatalities annually in the U.S. The rule would have targeted six specific salmonella strains—three from chicken and three from turkey—and would have banned the sale of contaminated products. After receiving over 7,000 public comments, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service decided to review current standards instead of going ahead with the rule.
The decision sparked mixed reactions. The National Chicken Council supported the withdrawal, saying the rule was not backed by science and would raise costs and cause food waste without improving public health. But food safety experts and former USDA officials were disappointed. They said the move sets back food safety efforts and goes against past progress, like the 1994 ban on certain E. coli in beef. At the same time, the USDA delayed enforcing a different rule for stuffed chicken products, which have been linked to outbreaks. Critics say these decisions favor industry over public safety.
The decision sparked mixed reactions. The National Chicken Council supported the withdrawal, saying the rule was not backed by science and would raise costs and cause food waste without improving public health. But food safety experts and former USDA officials were disappointed. They said the move sets back food safety efforts and goes against past progress, like the 1994 ban on certain E. coli in beef. At the same time, the USDA delayed enforcing a different rule for stuffed chicken products, which have been linked to outbreaks. Critics say these decisions favor industry over public safety.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- How many infections come from chicken each year, according to the article?
- What does salmonella cause each year in the U.S.?
- How many salmonella strains did the rule plan to target?
- What would have happened to contaminated products under the rule?
- Why were some people disappointed with the USDA’s decision?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever felt sick after eating something? If so, what did you eat, and how did you feel? If not, what kind of food do you try to avoid?
- Have you ever seen or read about food safety rules in your country? If yes, what was the rule about? If not, do you think we need more food safety rules? Why or why not?
- Do you agree with the idea that changing food safety rules can help reduce illness?
- Do you think food safety is more important than food cost? Why or why not?
- How can the government and food companies work together to make food safer for everyone?