A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
- Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
- Reading Read the main text.
- Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: Why do you think candy makers may not want to change their products?
a) They want to sell only fruit.
b) Changing colors may be difficult or expensive.
c) They want candy to be less colorful.
Ask: (1) Do you check food labels for ingredients? Why or why not? (2) Do you eat candy? When and what types?
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to remove synthetic food dyes from foods in the U.S. He says removing petroleum-based dyes from food will help people eat better and fight chronic disease.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with food companies. Six common dyes will be voluntarily removed by the end of next year, and the FDA is moving to ban two others. Popular products like Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Lucky Charms are expected to be dye-free by 2027.
Kennedy and FDA commissioner Marty Makary point to research that connects synthetic dyes to health problems in some children. Makary said that for years, American children have lived in a “toxic soup” of synthetic chemicals, and that removing petroleum-based food dyes is an important step.
Not everyone agrees. Industry groups say U.S. and European regulators have reviewed the dyes and say they are safe. Melissa Hockstad, head of the Consumer Brands Association, said the current ingredients have been rigorously studied.
Some large food companies such as Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and General Mills have accepted Kennedy’s plan, but candy companies remain a major roadblock. Mars, the maker of M&M’s and Skittles, says its products are safe and that natural colors are more expensive, fade easily, and are hard to match. Candy makers also say American consumers prefer brightly colored treats.
RFK Jr. Targets Food Dyes, Candy Makers Resist
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: Why do you think candy makers may not want to change their products?
a) They want to sell only fruit.
b) Changing colors may be difficult or expensive.
c) They want candy to be less colorful.
Ask: (1) Do you check food labels for ingredients? Why or why not? (2) Do you eat candy? When and what types?
-
Synthetic (adj.)
-
Petroleum-based (adj.)
-
Chronic (adj.)
-
Voluntarily (adv.)
-
Dye-free (adj.)
-
Toxic soup (n.)
-
Regulators (n.)
-
Rigorously (adv.)
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to remove synthetic food dyes from foods in the U.S. He says removing petroleum-based dyes from food will help people eat better and fight chronic disease.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with food companies. Six common dyes will be voluntarily removed by the end of next year, and the FDA is moving to ban two others. Popular products like Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Lucky Charms are expected to be dye-free by 2027.
Kennedy and FDA commissioner Marty Makary point to research that connects synthetic dyes to health problems in some children. Makary said that for years, American children have lived in a “toxic soup” of synthetic chemicals, and that removing petroleum-based food dyes is an important step.
Not everyone agrees. Industry groups say U.S. and European regulators have reviewed the dyes and say they are safe. Melissa Hockstad, head of the Consumer Brands Association, said the current ingredients have been rigorously studied.
Some large food companies such as Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and General Mills have accepted Kennedy’s plan, but candy companies remain a major roadblock. Mars, the maker of M&M’s and Skittles, says its products are safe and that natural colors are more expensive, fade easily, and are hard to match. Candy makers also say American consumers prefer brightly colored treats.
Two ways to use this audio:
- Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
- Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to remove (1) food dyes from foods in the U.S. He says removing petroleum-based dyes from food will help people eat better and fight chronic disease.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with food companies. Six common dyes will be (2) removed by the end of next year, and the FDA is moving to ban two others. Popular products like Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Lucky Charms are expected to be (3) by 2027.
Kennedy and FDA commissioner Marty Makary point to research that connects synthetic dyes to health problems in some children. Makary said that for years, American children have lived in a "toxic soup" of synthetic chemicals, and that removing petroleum-based food dyes is an important step.
Not everyone agrees. Industry groups say U.S. and European (4) have reviewed the dyes and say they are safe. Melissa Hockstad, head of the Consumer Brands Association, said the current ingredients have been (5) studied.
Some large food companies such as Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and General Mills have accepted Kennedy’s plan, but candy companies remain a (6) roadblock. Mars, the maker of M&M’s and Skittles, says its products are safe and that natural colors are more expensive, fade easily, and are hard to match. Candy makers also say American consumers prefer brightly colored treats.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. The FDA plans to ban all food dyes next year. TRUEFALSE False
2. Some large food companies agreed to follow the plan. TRUEFALSE True
3. Candy makers say natural colors are cheap and easy to use. TRUEFALSE False
4. Research links synthetic dyes to health problems in some children. TRUEFALSE True
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. Syntheticf) Made by people using chemicals, not found in nature.
2. Chronice) Happening for a long time or returning often.
3. Voluntarilyd) Done by free choice, not by force or law.
4. Dye-freec) Made without any added color chemicals.
5. Regulatorsb) Government groups that make and enforce rules.
6. Rigorouslya) Carefully and completely, with very high standards.
a) Carefully and completely, with very high standards.
b) Government groups that make and enforce rules.
c) Made without any added color chemicals.
d) Done by free choice, not by force or law.
e) Happening for a long time or returning often.
f) Made by people using chemicals, not found in nature.
Discussion Questions
- How much do you care about eating healthy food?
- Are there any ingredients that you avoid?
- Should governments remove synthetic dyes from food, or should they wait for more research on their effects?
- If customers prefer to buy brightly colored foods, should we respect that choice?
- Why do some candy makers want to keep the bright colors, in your opinion?
- Are natural colors a good solution if they cost more and fade easily? Explain.
- M&M's come in a variety of colors (red, orange, green, blue, yellow, and dark brown). Which color would you pick first?
- Would you choose to buy a natural product if it were more expensive than a product made with synthetic dyes? Why?
- What does it mean when something is “rigorously studied”? Do you trust the people that are doing the research?
- What are the most important things to do to stay healthy?
Discussion Questions
- How much do you care about eating healthy food?
- Are there any ingredients that you avoid?
- Should governments remove synthetic dyes from food, or should they wait for more research on their effects?
- If customers prefer to buy brightly colored foods, should we respect that choice?
- Why do some candy makers want to keep the bright colors, in your opinion?
- Are natural colors a good solution if they cost more and fade easily? Explain.
- M&M's come in a variety of colors (red, orange, green, blue, yellow, and dark brown). Which color would you pick first?
- Would you choose to buy a natural product if it were more expensive than a product made with synthetic dyes? Why?
- What does it mean when something is “rigorously studied”? Do you trust the people that are doing the research?
- What are the most important things to do to stay healthy?
Answers
Think Ahead: b
Listening: (1) synthetic, (2) voluntarily, (3) dye-free, (4) regulators, (5) rigorously, (6) major
True or False:
- False. Six common dyes will be removed voluntarily, and two may be banned. Many products aim to be dye-free by 2027, not next year, and not all dyes are banned.
- True. Companies like Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and General Mills accepted the plan.
- False. Candy makers say natural colors cost more, fade easily, and are hard to match.
- True. The article says research connects synthetic dyes to health problems in children.
Vocabulary:
- Synthetic: Made by people using chemicals, not found in nature.
- Chronic: Happening for a long time or returning often.
- Voluntarily: Done by free choice, not by force or law.
- Dye-free: Made without any added color chemicals.
- Regulators: Government groups that make and enforce rules.
- Rigorously: Carefully and completely, with very high standards.