French researchers think they found a connection between “ultra-processed” foods and cancer. Foods that they consider to be ultra-processed include chicken nuggets, cake, ramen, chocolate, and more. Experts are cautioning people not to be scared by this study. Many people are skeptical.
It is already a fact that a person’s diet can cause cancer. Obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. Now, people are questioning ultra-processed foods.
A team at the Universite Sorbonne Paris Cite studied a group of people for about five years. Their results were published in the British Medical Journal. They showed that if the people ate 10% more ultra-processed foods, 12% more cancers were detected. The researchers said the results could mean that many more people get cancer in future decades, if ultra-processed food consumption rises. They also said larger studies should be done to confirm the results.
This study should not be taken as fact. People who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods are more likely to smoke, not exercise, and eat fattier foods. These things could change the results. Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert said this study was just a warning signal but not fact. She also said people should have a healthy diet but not worry if they eat a little processed food “here and there”.
Difficult words
Ultra-processed: Very manufactured, not natural.
Cautioning: A warning to avoid danger.
Skeptical: To be doubtful or unable to believe something.
Obesity: Extremely overweight.
Preventable: Able to avoid or stop something.
Publish: To make a creative work public.
Detect: To discover or identify.
Confirm: To find the truth.
Signal: An action or sound that has another meaning.
Activities
For listening practise, listen to the recorded article here:
British English:
American English:
Match the Synonym!
| 1. Cautioning | A. Very fat. |
| 2. Skeptical | B. Warning |
| 3. Obesity | C. Discover |
| 4. Preventable | D. Doubtful |
| 5. Detect | E. Avoidable |
True or False?
1. German researchers think they found a connection between ultra-processed foods and cancer. T / F
2. Experts say you should not be frightened by this study. T / F
3. Nobody is skeptical that this study proves facts. T / F
4. Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer. T / F
5. The researchers said smaller studies should be done to confirm their results. T / F
Unscramble the sentence!
1. people / cautioning / by / not / Experts / scared / this / study / be / to / are
2. is / fact / can / It / cause / cancer / already / person’s / a / that / a / diet
3. people / are / Many / skeptical
4. studies / larger / the / be / said / They / confirm / should / also / to / done / results
5. be / study / as / This / should / not / taken / fact
Listening and Vocabulary
Listen to the article and fill in the words OR practice vocabulary and fill in the words.
British English:
American English:
| Results | Warning | Connection |
| Preventable | Cautioning | Obesity |
French researchers think they found a _______________ between “ultra-processed” foods and cancer. Foods that they consider to be ultra-processed include chicken nuggets, cake, ramen, chocolate, and more. Experts are ______________ people to not to be scared by this study. Many people are skeptical.
It is already a fact that a person’s diet can cause cancer. ______________ is the second biggest _______________ cause of cancer after smoking. Now, people are questioning ultra-processed foods.
A team at the Universite Sorbonne Paris Cite studied a group of people for about five years. Their results were published in the British Medical Journal. They showed that if the people ate 10% more ultra-processed foods, 12% more cancers were detected. The researchers said the ____________ could mean that many more people get cancer in future decades, if ultra-processed food consumption rises. They also said larger studies should be done to confirm the results.
This study should not be taken as fact. People who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods are more likely to smoke, not exercise, and eat fattier foods. These things could change the results. Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert said this study was just a ___________ signal but not fact. She also said people should have a healthy diet but not worry if they eat a little processed food “here and there”.
Conversation Questions
Take turns speaking with a partner or try to answer on your own:
| 1. Did you find this article interesting? Why or why not? |
| 2. Did you learn anything new from this article? If so, what? |
| 3. What do you know about processed foods? |
| 4. How often do you eat processed foods? |
| 5. What are your favourite foods that you know are unhealthy? |
| 6. Do you think people should be scared of processed foods? |
| 7. How often do you cook? |
| 8. What kinds of things can you cook? |
| 9. Do you eat out or at home more? |
| 10. How easy is it to get food delivered in your country? |
| 11. What are popular delivery or fast foods in your country? |
| 12. Do you worry about your diet? |
| 13. What do you do to stay healthy? |
| 14. Is it easy to stay healthy in your country? |
| 15. Are gyms popular where you live? |
| 16. Are gym memberships expensive in your country? |
| 17. Have you ever had a gym membership? |
| 18. Do you ever worry about cancer? |
| 19. Do you think scientists will find a cure to cancer one day? |
| 20. Do you think people worry too much about what causes cancer? |