VOA慢速英语--面粉问题被怀疑是细菌的流出

AS IT IS 2016-06-06 Flour Products Suspected of Bacteria Issue 面粉问题被怀疑是细菌的流出

American food product manufacturer General Mills has recalled about 4.5 million kilograms of flour.

General Mills announced the flour recall because of a possible link to E. coli infections in 20 states, reported the Associated Press.

Escherichia coli are bacteria found in the environment. The bacteria are often harmless. But some stronger forms of E. coli can make people sick. They can cause diarrhea and dehydration¹.

The company’s recall was announced on May 31. In the United States, a food recall means that inspectors² identified one or more problems with a product.

The General Mills recall is for several kinds of Gold Medal and Signature Kitchens flour. Those products were sold at Safeway, Albertsons and other stores.

Much of the recalled flour was produced at the company’s factory in Kansas City, Missouri, the AP said.

General Mills said E. coli has not been found in any of its flour products. The company said it is still recalling the flour out of “an abundance of caution.”

The company said 38 people became sick from the middle of December through May 3. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that half of the people used flour before getting sick.

Some of the flour used was a General Mills brand. Those getting sick may have also eaten uncooked dough³ or batter⁴, the company said.

It said people should not eat uncooked dough or batter. General Mills urged people to wash their hands and work surfaces after contact with such products.

Words in This Story

recall – n. a request by a company for people to return a product that has a defect or problem

flour – n. powder made from a grain (especially wheat) that is used in cooking for making bread and cakes

E. coli – n. a kind of bacteria that is sometimes in food and water and that can make people sick

diarrhea – n. an illness that causes you to pass waste from your body very frequently and in liquid rather than solid form

dehydration – n. the process of removing water or moisture from the body

abundance – n. a large amount of something

dough – n. a mixture of flour, water and other ingredients that is baked to make bread and cookies

batter – n. a mixture of different ingredients (such as flour, sugar, eggs and oil) that is cooked and eaten

1 dehydration   

n.脱水，干燥

参考例句：

• He died from severe dehydration.他死于严重脱水。
• The eyes are often retracted from dehydration.眼睛常因脱水而凹陷。

2 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 dough   

n.生面团；钱，现款

参考例句：

• She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
• The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。

4 batter   

v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员

参考例句：

• The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
• Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。