©(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- contamination /kuhn-tam-uh-NEY-shuhn/
[noun] – the presence of something harmful, dirty, or unwanted that makes a place or substance unsafe
The restaurant faced problems due to contamination in its kitchen water supply. - withdraw /with-DRAW/
[verb] – to remove something, or to stop offering it
The company decided to withdraw its new product after customers complained. - exposure /ik-SPOH-zher/
[noun] – the state of being in contact with something harmful or dangerous
The report warned that long exposure to polluted air may cause health problems. - pose /pohz/
[verb] – to create or present a possible danger or problem
The broken wires could pose a danger to children in the playground. - precaution /pri-KAW-shuhn/
[noun] – something done in advance to prevent danger or harm
As a precaution, the school canceled classes during the storm.
Article Reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Federal health officials have ordered Walmart to pull certain frozen raw shrimp from stores in 13 states after concerns about radioactive contamination surfaced. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked the company to withdraw three lots of Great Value brand shrimp after Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, was detected in shipping containers and in a product sample imported from Indonesia. The affected lots carried codes 8005540-1, 8005538-1, and 8005539-1, with best-by dates of March 15, 2027. The shrimp had been distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. FDA experts stated that exposure to small amounts of Cesium-137 over long periods could pose a health concern, though the risk was considered minimal.
Regulators identified P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian supplier operating as BMS Foods, as the source of the contaminated shrimp. Customs officers had earlier detected Cesium-137 in containers arriving through ports such as Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah. The FDA later confirmed the isotope in one shrimp sample, although the level remained far below regulatory intervention standards. Food safety expert Donald Schaffner said the health risk was low but stressed the need for precaution. Minute traces of Cesium-137, a radioactive byproduct of nuclear activity, are naturally present in the air, soil, and food around the world. Regulators are now weighing stricter monitoring and tighter inspections to safeguard future shipments and protect consumer health.
Regulators identified P.T. Bahari Makmur Sejati, an Indonesian supplier operating as BMS Foods, as the source of the contaminated shrimp. Customs officers had earlier detected Cesium-137 in containers arriving through ports such as Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Savannah. The FDA later confirmed the isotope in one shrimp sample, although the level remained far below regulatory intervention standards. Food safety expert Donald Schaffner said the health risk was low but stressed the need for precaution. Minute traces of Cesium-137, a radioactive byproduct of nuclear activity, are naturally present in the air, soil, and food around the world. Regulators are now weighing stricter monitoring and tighter inspections to safeguard future shipments and protect consumer health.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever bought frozen seafood from a supermarket? If so, what kind of seafood did you buy? If not, what food do you usually buy frozen?
- Have you ever experienced a product recall in your country? If so, what product was recalled and how did people react? If not, how would you feel if a product you use was suddenly recalled?
- Do you agree that even a low health risk should be taken seriously when food safety is involved?
- What responsibilities do you think food companies should have when a product is found to be unsafe?
- What can consumers do to feel safer about the food they buy in supermarkets?
Summarization:
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- concern
- radioactive
- sample
- risk
- supplier