AGRICULTURE REPORT - Question from Vietnam: How Can Food Com

AGRICULTURE REPORT - Question from Vietnam: How Can Food Companies Control Pests Safely?
By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: Tuesday, April 12, 2005

I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

 
 
Our subject this week involves food safety. We have a question from a listener in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Nguyen Thanh Thanh asks how can food companies control problems like rats and insects without harming the food?

Experts say poisons should never be used where they may enter food. They say the first line of defense¹ against pests is to clean places where food is handled or stored.

Floors, food preparation surfaces and tools can be disinfected with chemicals like chlorine, iodine² or bromine. A five-and-one-quarter percent chlorine solution is commonly used. Mix nineteen milliliters of the chlorine solution with five liters of water for use in cleaning.

Food containers should be stored about one-half a meter off the ground. They should also be kept about one-half a meter away from walls. Storage areas should be kept dry and clean.

Good drainage means that floors do not have areas where water can collect.

Waste containers inside and outside the building should be kept closed. And they should be kept clean.

Clear any waste from the grounds around a building. Small stones can be used to cover the ground and block the growth of plants. Keep areas of grass cut to deny pests a place to live.

Doors and windows must close completely. Also, any holes that might permit pests to enter a building should be filled. Rats can enter through a hole thirteen millimeters in size. A mouse can pass through a hole half that size.

Supervisors³ should make a list of pest-control measures to be taken by employees. This will aid the efforts and also help prepare for any inspections⁵.

In the United States, businesses where food is stored, prepared or sold must follow federal, state and local health laws.

The Food and Drug Administration enforces federal rules. So does the Food Safety and Inspection⁴ Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for rules about the use of pesticides⁶.

The United States government has a Web site with information all about food safety. The address is foodsafety-dot-gov, f-o-o-d-s-a-f-e-t-y dot g-o-v.

If you have a question for us about agriculture or related subjects, write to [email protected]. Or visit us online at voaspecialenglish dot com.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. I'm Gwen Outen.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 iodine   

n.碘，碘酒

参考例句：

• The doctor painted iodine on the cut.医生在伤口上涂点碘酒。
• Iodine tends to localize in the thyroid.碘容易集于甲状腺。

3 supervisors   

n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
• Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句

4 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

5 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》