The chips are down for fast-food wrappers

Do you often pay attention to the wrapper of product? What kind of wrapper do you like?

 

1. Don’t miss your chance to enrich your vocabulary:

 

· cuisine-кухня · to wrap- упаковывать · delicacy—деликатес, лакомство · to face smth.-сталкиваться · take-away-на вынос(еда из ресторана кафе сети “fast food” и др.) · french fries-картошка «фри» · conventional- обычный, традиционный · to claim- утверждать, заявлять · edible- съедобный, годный в пищу · to be able to do smth.-быть способным сделать ч.л · discarded- выброшенный

· cone-стаканчик(например, для мороженного) · to point out- указывать, обращать внимание · powdered-порошкообразный · to coat on the inside- вывернуть на изнанку · impervious-непроницаемый · vinegar-уксус · to stock- pile-накапливать, делать запасы · reception-прием, восприятие · humble- простой, скромный

2. Read and translate the text:

That international symbol of British cuisine fish and chips wrapped in paper – may never be the same again. The industry associated with the national delicacy is facing increasing pressure to reduce the environmental pollution caused by its discarded packaging.

An estimated 3.6 billion containers for take away British chips and their continental cousins, French fries and pomfrites; are thrown away each year. Apart from conventional paper wrapping, it is estimated that almost one billion plastic and cardboard plates are dumped each year in Britain after fish and chip lovers have had them.

Later a new product will be launched which will help reduce the 22,000 tons of European paper waste associated with the food. The new product, an edible chip cone, is biodegradable and, say its makers, even tastes like a chip. Fast food shops will now be able to serve portions in the new cone, which can be eaten itself after its contents have been consumed, therefore leaving no litter. The Ditch manufactures point out that if people prefer not to eat the product they can throw it in a litter bin where it will decompose naturally within a few days. The new cone – at approximately 10 inches high, the right size for a medium portion of chips – is made from powdered potato, vegetable oil and salt. A secret coating on the inside makes it impervious to vinegar and sauces. The cones, already launched successfully in Holland and Germany, are now being stock-piled in their millions for their British launch.

Customers gave the cone a mixed reception. Some claimed it tasted like “Salted paper”, while others said that they “wouldn’t eat it” but their “dog might”. Some said the product was “a good idea” and that they “would certainly eat it to save the environment”.

COMPREHENSION

3. Find words in the text that mean:

1 food speciality

2. thrown away

3. traditional away

4. introduced

5. which you can eat

6. it decomposes naturally

7. quantity of food

8. eaten

9.waste paper

10. liquids cannot pass through it

11. a condition

12. look again

13. changed

 

4. Underline these things in the text:

1. four ways of serving chips

2. where the new packaging is made

3. what it is made from

4. where it has been tried in the UK

5. What needs to be changed for the British market

 

5. Choose the right variant:

1. Why do fish and chips cause environmental pollution?

A.. People buy more than they can eat.

B. People prefer to use plastic plates.

C. People are careless with the wrapping.

D. The plates and wrapping are not used again.

 

2. How will the new product solve the problem?

A.. It can be used again.

B. It is a different shape.

C. People can eat it.

 

3. What is the new product made of?

A.. Paper that tastes of salt

B. Things usually eaten with chips.

C. Mostly natural ingredients.

D. It is a secret.

A.. will be larger than those served abroad.

B. will taste better than those served in plastic.

C. will cost more than those served in paper.

D. will be easier to eat than other chips.

 

Talk to your partner.

 

What environmental problems can be caused by fast-food restaurants?

What solutions would you suggest to these problems? Think about:

· position of litter bins

· making new laws

· redesigning the restaurants

· changing the packaging

· educating the public

· training the staff

Facts, facts, facts …

Many cities around the world today are heavily polluted. Careless manufacturing processes employed by some industries and lack of consumer demand for environmentally safe products have contributed to the pollution problem. One result is that millions of tons of glass, paper, plastic and metal containers are produced, and these are difficult to dispose of. However, today, more and more consumers are choosing “green” and demanding that the products they buy are safe for the environment. Before they buy a product, they ask questions like these: ”Will this hairspray damage the ozone layer?” “Is the packaging biodegradable?” “Will it break down in a trash dump?” “Can this metal container be recycled or can it only be used once?” A recent survey showed that two out of five adults now consider the environmental safety of a product before they buy it. This means that companies must now change the way they make and sell their products to make sure that they are “green”, that is, friendly to the environment. Only a few years ago, it was impossible to find green products in supermarkets, but now there are hundreds. Some supermarket products carry labels to show that the product is green. Some companies have made the manufacturing of clean and safe products their main selling point and emphasize it in their advertising. The concern for a safer and cleaner environment is making companies rethink how they do business. No longer will the public accept the old attitude of “Buy it, use it, throw it away, and forget it.” The public pressure is on, and gradually business is cleaning up its act.

Text 4.