Food fight comes to america by John Stauber/Тhе Nation/

As the international uprising against genetically engineered (GE) foods continues to grow, the worst fear of US government and business is that the commotion abroad will awaken Americans, who already consume biotech foods being rejected in Europe. The Food and Drug Administration has officially opposed biotech labeling and mandatory safety testing since 1992. But now Europeans are forcing American companies to segregate and label genetically engineered foods. We have to do what Europe and Japan have done - build a powerful organised movement of farmers, consumers and environmental activities who will target and boycott companies.

The activities want the biotech foods off the market.

W HAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO GMF?

The answer is organic foods.

Organic food means high standards.

How can you be sure those carrots or that loaf of bread are really organic?

Quite simply, if it's label features one of the symbols, it's genuine. All organic food must be grown and produced to a strict set of regulations controlled by the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) and the European Union.

In addition, all organic food producers in Britain must be certified with one of the organisations whose symbols are shown on the right - the most common is the Soil Association. These organisations check that organic food production standards are followed.

Ex. 9 A. Read the dialogue with a partner and speak about different kinds of food that cause health problems.

Karen: Lunchtime! I'm off! Coming!

Liam: Where are you going?

Karen: That new place down the road. Tried it yet?

Liam: No, not yet. Is it any good?

Karen: Yeah, their pizzas are great.

Liam: Good, pizza and a pint for me.

John: Not me. I'm going to the chippy.

Ross: Chips are bad for you . Make you fat. Damage your heart.

Kent: I feel sorry for Rona though. Her diet's really strict.

Janet: What's she got?

Kent: Something wrong inside her. Gall bladder or something. No fat, nothing fried, not even butter on her bread, and she has to have skimmed milk all the time. I wouldn't like that.

Sharon: Not as bad as my Dad. He's got awful arthritis. In pain all the time. The doctor said he must cut all white flour and all white sugar. That means no cakes, no pastry, even his custard has to be made with brown sugar.

Ross: My mum's got a bad heart. They're on at her about something in her blood - col... something.

Kent: Cholesterol?

Ross: That's it. Well, this col thing, it comes from eggs and meat and things like that.

She can't have any of them.

Sharon: And you know about Geoffrey? He's fifteen stone and they say he's got to lose six stone. He's on a fibre diet. Has to eat lots of vegetables and wholemeal bread and all that. But it's working - he's looking better already.

Ross: At least he can stop when he feels like it.

Karen: Hi folks! We're back! Had a good lunch?

Liam: Had a cheerful time then? What have you been talking about?

Janet: All the bad things about food. There are so many problems with it.

Ross: You join me with wholemeal bread and fruit juice and you'll be OK.

Liam: Not me!

B. Speak about someone you know who has been on a diet. What caused the problem?

Ex. 10 Look at the diet below. It shows what a 10-year-old British boy eats in a typical day.

Breakfast

Cornflakes (25 g) with sugar (25 g) and milk (1/4 litre), 1 boiled egg

2 slices of toast with butter (25 g)

1 cup of tea with 1 teaspoonful of sugar(25 g)

Lunch 1 pork pie 1 portion of chips 1 portion of beans Dinner 1 cup of tomato soup 1 piece of chicken (1OOg) 1 tomato lettuce (3 leaves) 2 potatoes Supper 1 slice of toast with cheese (25 g) 1 glass of milk (1/4 litre)

1 apple 1 chocolate biscuit 1 glass of milk (1/4 litre) 2 slices of bread and butter (25 g) 1 slice of lemon meringue pie 2 cups of tea and 2 teaspoonfuls of sugar (25 g) 1 chocolate biscuit Snacks during the day 1 can of lemonade 1 packet of salted peanuts (25 g)

A. Discuss with a partner whether this is a healthy diet? What do you think a 10-year-old boy in your country would eat in a typical day?

B. What nourishing diet can you recommend for a child who has been ill.

I am on a seafood diet.

I see food and I eat it.