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Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. hospitalize
    • ex. He was hospitalized after the car accident and stayed in the hospital for five days.
  2. a germ
    • ex. Washing your hands helps remove germs that can make you sick.
  3. thrive
    • ex. Plants thrive when they get enough sunlight and water.
  4. contaminated
    • ex. People got sick after eating contaminated food from the market.
  5. food poisoning
    • ex. He got food poisoning after eating old meat from the fridge.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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At least 10 people in the United States got sick from a listeria infection outbreak linked to packed sandwiches and snacks. The products were made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC and were sold in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington. Because of this, the company has taken back many products being sold in stores, hospitals, hotels, airports, and on airlines. Some people were hospitalized in California and Nevada. The first cases started in December 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Listeria is a harmful germ that can thrive even in cold places like the fridge. It can spread when food is prepared or kept in contaminated areas. It can cause food poisoning, with signs like fever, muscle pain, and diarrhea. For some people, the infection can become serious, causing headaches, confusion, or shaking. 

Older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems are most at risk of listeria infection. To stay safe, clean any surfaces that touched the food that might have listeria. The CDC says heating food to 165°F (74°C) can kill listeria, but this may not work for cold meals like sandwiches.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Food Safety Habits and Practices

  • In the U.S., listeria was found in packed sandwiches and snacks. What do you think of food production companies’ food safety practices (ex. they are not strict)? Discuss.
  • What do you usually do to make sure your food is clean and safe to eat? Discuss.
  • What are some signs that food might be contaminated or unsafe to eat? Discuss.

Listeria

  • People in the U.S. got sick from packed sandwiches and snacks with listeria. Would you stop eating packed food after reading this news? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Listeria is a harmful germ that can thrive even in cold places like the fridge. Would you change the way you prepare or keep food after learning about listeria? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The products with listeria were made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC. What do you think should happen to a company that sells contaminated food? Discuss.