Confidence in Chinese milk turns sour

BEFORE READING 

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	confidence	a.	toxic
2	tainted	b.	basic
3.	infants	c.	trust
4.	poisonous	d.	lethal
5.	deadly	e.	safety measure
6.	checks	f.	responded
7.	rectify	g.	examinations
8.	fundamental	h.	damaged
9.	reacted	i.	correct
10.	precaution	j.	young children

Chinese consumers are losing confidence in their country’s dairy industry after the latest tainted milk products scandal. Almost 6,500 babies and children have become ill and four have died. Several hundred infants now have extreme kidney failure. Many parents are furious and upset that their young children need operations to remove stones from their kidneys. The reason for this tragedy is milk powder makers adding a poisonous plastic compound to their products. The country’s biggest dairy company, the Sanlu Group, admitted finding the deadly melamine chemical in its baby powder. Melamine increases the level of protein in milk. The same chemical has also been found in liquid milk. Supermarkets are clearing their shelves of domestic milk products.


The Chinese government has ordered emergency checks on all dairy products. It found ten per cent of the items it tested contained melamine. Officials have promised consumers that they will punish those responsible for the scandal. China’s news agency Xinhua reported: "Local authorities should rectify the dairy industry so as to bring a fundamental change to the dairy market and products." The crisis has spread beyond China’s borders, with Malaysia, Singapore and Japan banning Chinese milk imports. Starbucks coffee chain in China has reacted quickly. Hundreds of its coffee shops have stopped serving drinks with milk, which is affecting its business. A company spokesman said this was a precaution “due to the serious nature” of the situation.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Chinese milk is going bad very quickly because of global warming.	T / F
b.	Nearly 6,500 children died because of milk products in China.	T / F
c.	Many children need operations after the milk damaged their kidneys.	T / F
d.	Supermarkets are emptying their stores of Chinese milk products.	T / F
e.	China’s government hasn’t started testing milk products yet.	T / F
f.	Chinese authorities said it will punish all wrongdoers in the crisis.	T / F
g.	The milk scandal has so far stayed within China’s borders.	T / F
h.	Starbucks coffee shops in China continue to sell coffee with milk.	T / F