Description: This is
a VOA Special English Technology Report.
See text below
Text:
Food that has come in contact with floodwaters can
sicken anyone who eats it. Water from floods may
contain animal and human waste. It can also contain
other pollutants like chemicals from agriculture and
industry. After a flood, food safety specialists at
the United States Department of Agriculture have
this advice:Throw away anything that is not stored
in a waterproof container if there was a chance of
contact. Food containers that are not waterproof
include those with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops
and crimped caps. Also, throw away boxes of juice,
milk or baby formula if they have come into contact
with floodwater.The Department of Health in the
state of Minnesota says you should throw away
anything in soft packaging. And the Extension
Service at North Dakota State University offers
other advice: Do not save plastic bags of food even
if boxes or containers inside the bags appear dry.
Do not eat fresh produce from the garden if it has
come in contact with floodwater. To be safe, have
the soil tested. And throw away screw-topped or
crimp-topped jars and bottles even if they have
never been opened. Glass jars and bottles of
home-canned foods should be thrown out as well.
Experts say the containers cannot be effectively
cleaned after a flood. Throw away damaged metal cans
or hard plastic containers. Do not use cans that are
swollen or leaking, or that are rusted or crushed.
But food safety experts say that some unopened,
undamaged all-metal cans can be saved. First, remove
any labels. The paper may contain dirt and germs
from the floodwater. Wash the cans with soap and
water, and brush or wipe away dirt. Use hot water
and water that is safe for drinking if they are
available. Next, place the cans again in water and
heat the water to one hundred degrees Celsius. Boil
the cans for two minutes. Another way to disinfect
the cans is in a freshly made solution of chlorine
bleach. Use eight drops of unscented liquid bleach
for every four liters of water. Use drinking water
or the cleanest, clearest water available. Place the
cans in the solution for fifteen minutes. Let
sanitized cans air-dry for at least one hour before
opening or storing them. And re-label the cans with
a marking pen to list their contents and any dates
when the foods are best used by. Experts advise
using the cans as soon as possible. And that's the
VOA Special English Development Report. You can
read, download and comment on our reports at
voaspecialenglish.com.
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Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
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