June 7 • Cultural Insight

World Food Safety Day

Observed on the 7th of June, World Food Safety Day was established by the United Nations to draw attention to the health consequences of contaminated food and water. An estimated 600 million people fall ill every year after eating contaminated food, and 420,000 die as a result.

Speaking Discussion

Do we have a right to know exactly which farm every ingredient in our burger came from?
Should ultra-Processed foods carry the same health warnings as cigarettes?
Is organic a genuine safety standard or just a way to make rich people feel better?
Why are we so afraid of bacteria but so comfortable with chemical preservatives?
If you had to kill and process your own meat, would you still be a meat-eater?

Activity 1: The Crisis Manager

The Task: A listeria outbreak has been traced to your company's frozen pizza. You are the CEO. You have 3 minutes to give a public apology. You must balance legal liability with human empathy. How do you win back the public's trust?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Justify in 30 seconds: 1. 'Ignorance is bliss when it comes to the food industry.' 2. 'Governments should prioritise food 'price' over food 'safety' for the poor.' 3. 'A person who doesn't cook their own food is a person who has given up their power.'

Key Vocabulary

Contaminated (Adj) Made impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.
Processed (Adj) (Of food) performed a series of mechanical or chemical operations on it in order to change or preserve it.
Preservative (N) A substance used to preserve foodstuffs, wood, or other materials against decay.
Liability (N) The state of being responsible for something, especially by law.
Transparency (N) The quality of being done in an open way without secrets.

Fluency Catalyst

Native Phrase: When discussing impact, use: "To take it with a grain of salt."

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