[Reuters] French baguette faces pinch from anti-salt lawmakers
French baguette faces pinch from anti-salt lawmakers
France’s beloved bread loaf, the baguette, may be about to lose some of its bite, with politicians looking into the health risks of additives set to propose legislation forcing bakers and processed food makers more generally to slash salt content.
After months of investigation and hearings, a parliamentary committee has come to the conclusion that voluntary agreements on the reduction of high salt levels have not been respected and that it is time to impose healthier norms via legislation.
“It’s a real public health problem, ” said Loic Prud’homme, one of a 20-member parliamentary committee looking into the matter. Michele Crouzet, another committee member, said the daily intake of salt in France, at about 10 to 12 grams, is still double the limit recommended by the World Health Organization.
Excessive salt levels are linked to cardiovascular trouble, which in France is the second-biggest killer among health problems.
Crouzet said the committee could propose a tax on salt like one already introduced in France on the sugar content of fizzy drinks. But some say that levy has been ineffective because manufacturers are shifting to other forms of sweetener.
“What we can now say is that voluntary agreements do not work and it’s now time to switch to binding constraints, “ Prud’homme told Reuters.
In the case of the baguette, and bread more generally, voluntary agreements struck in 2002 had sought to limit the salt level to 18 grams per kilo of flour within five years, he said. Some 16 years later, that goal had still not been met.
- baguette:(n) [bæ’get] 法國棍子麵包 back
a long thin loaf of bread, made especially in France.
The sale of baked goods grew rapidly, the baguette in particular. 烘培產品的銷量迅速增加, 法棍尤為突出.
- pinch:(n) [pɪn(t)ʃ] 捏 back
-1. when you press someone’s skin between your finger and thumb. 捏，掐，夹
She gave him a playful pinch. 她开玩笑地捏了他一把.
-2. pinch of salt/pepper etc: a small amount of salt, pepper etc that you can hold between your finger and thumb. 一撮盐/胡椒粉等
Add a pinch of salt to taste. 加一撮盐来调味.
-3. at a pinch: used to say that you could do something if necessary in a difficult or urgent situation. 必要时；在紧要关头
There’s space for three people. Four at a pinch. 有三个人的空间，必要时可以挤四个人.
If you’re in a pinch, I’m sure they’d look after Jenny for a while. 如果你有急事，我确信他们会照顾珍妮一段时间.
- pinch:(v)
-1. to press a part of someone’s skin very tightly between your finger and thumb, especially so that it hurts. 捏，掐，夹
He pinched her cheek. 他捏了一下她的脸颊.
We have to stop her pinching her baby brother. 我们不能让她再掐她小弟弟了.
-2. to steal something, especially something small or not very valuable. 偷窃〔尤指小物品或不很值钱的东西〕
Someone’s pinched my coat! 有人偷了我的外套！
-3. to press something between your finger and thumb. 捏住；捏紧
Pinch the edges of the pastry together to seal it. 把馅饼的边缘捏紧封口.
- beloved:(a) [bɪ’lʌvɪd; -‘lʌvd] 心愛的 back
loved very much by someone. 钟爱的，挚爱的；宝贝的
He never recovered from the death of his beloved daughter. 他一直没有走出失去爱女的阴影.
a book beloved of children everywhere. 受各地儿童钟爱的一本书
beloved:(n) 心愛的人; 親愛的教友
someone who is loved very much.
my/her beloved. 我/她的挚爱.
- loaf:(n) [ləʊf] 一條(麵包) back
-1. bread that is shaped and baked in one piece and can be cut into slices.〔面包的〕一条
a loaf of bread. 一条面包
white/wholemeal/granary etc loaf. 白面包/全麦面包/谷类面包等
a sliced loaf 切片面包
-2. food that has been cut into very small pieces, pressed together, and baked.〔切细、压实再焙烤的〕糕
a meat loaf. 肉糕
-3. use your loaf: used to tell someone to think more carefully about what they are doing. 机灵点，动动脑筋
loaf:[v]
to spend time somewhere and not do very much. 虚度光阴；闲荡
They spend all day loafing around on street corners. 他们整天在街角闲荡.
- bite:(n) [baɪt] 咬 back
-1. using teeth 用牙齿. the act of cutting or crushing something with your teeth. 咬
Antonio devoured half his burger in one bite. Antonio 一口就咬下半个汉堡包.
Her body was covered in bite marks. 她浑身都是咬痕.
take/have a bite (of sth/out of sth)
She picked up the sandwich and took a bite. 她拿起三明治咬了一口.
Can I have a bite of your apple? 我咬一口你的苹果行吗？
give sb a bite
Some fish can give you a nasty bite. 有些鱼会把你咬得很痛.
-2. wound 伤口. a small hole made where an animal or insect has bitten you. 被咬[叮，蜇]的伤口
snake/ant etc bite 蛇咬的伤口/蚂蚁叮的印子等
The infection is passed by the bite of a mosquito. 这种疾病是通过蚊子叮咬传染的.
-3. a bite (to eat). a small meal 简单的一餐
We had a bite to eat and a couple of drinks before the flight. 起飞前我们简单吃了点东西，喝了几杯酒.
- bite:(v)
-1. teeth 牙齿. to use your teeth to cut, crush, or chew something. 咬
The dog bit him and made his hand bleed. 那只狗把他的手咬出血了.
[+ into/through/at/down]
She bit into a croissant and took a sip of coffee. 她咬了一口牛角面包，啜了一口咖啡.
An adult conger eel can easily bite through a man’s leg. 成年的康吉鳗不费力就能咬穿人的腿.
Nina pushed her fist into her mouth and bit down hard. Nina 把拳头塞进嘴巴，使劲地咬下去.
bite sth off
a man whose arm was bitten off by an alligator. 被短吻鳄咬掉一条胳膊的男子.
bite your nails (= bite the nails on your fingers, especially because you are nervous) 咬指甲
I wish I could stop biting my nails. 我希望自己能改掉咬指甲的毛病.
bite your lip (= because you are upset or not sure what to say)〔因为难过或不知道该说什么而〕咬着嘴唇
She paused uncertainly, biting her lip. 她犹豫着停了下来，咬着嘴唇.
-2. insect/snake 昆虫/蛇. to injure someone by making a hole in their skin. 叮，蜇，咬.
I think I’ve been bitten. 我好像被什么东西咬了
The dog’s been badly bitten by fleas. 狗被跳蚤咬得很厉害.
-3. press hard 用力挤压. if an object bites into a surface, it presses firmly into it and does not move or slip. 卡紧，咬住，紧抓住〔某个表面〕
[+ into]
The hooves of the galloping horses had bitten deep into the soft earth. 疾驰的马儿在松软的泥土里踏出了深深的蹄印.
He wore boots that bit into the ice. 他穿了一双能卡住冰面的靴子.
- look into:深入替檢查; 調查; 觀察 back
They set up a working party to look into the issue. 他們設立了一個工作小組來調查這件事.
The college principal promised to look into the matter. 學院院長承諾調查這個問題.
- additive:(n) [‘ædɪtɪv] 添加劑 back
a substance that is added to food to improve its taste, appearance etc.〔食品的〕添加剂，添加物
permitted food additives. 允许使用的食品添加剂
Our products are free from artificial additives. 我们的产品不含人工添加剂.
- legislation:(n) [ledʒɪs’leɪʃ(ə)n] 立法, 法律 back
a law or set of laws 法规，法律.
This is a very important piece of legislation (= law). 这是一条非常重要的法规
[+ on ]
the legislation on abortion. 关于堕胎的法规
legislation to do sth
new legislation to protect children. 保护儿童的新法规.
introduce/bring in legislation
The government has promised to bring in new legislation to combat this problem. 政府承诺颁行新法规来防止这个问题.
under new/existing/current etc legislation
Both individuals and companies can be prosecuted under the new legislation. 根据新法规的规定，个人和公司都有可能遭到起诉.
- baker:(n) [‘beɪkə] 麵包師 back
-1. someone who bakes bread and cakes, especially in order to sell them in a shop. 面包师，糕饼师.
-2. baker’s. a shop that makes and sells bread and cakes. 面包店，糕饼屋.
- slash:(v) [slæʃ] 大幅度裁减或削减 back
-1. to greatly reduce an amount, price etc - used especially in newspapers and advertising. 大幅度削减 〔数量、价格等；尤用于报纸和广告〕
The workforce has been slashed by 50%. 劳动力已削减了 50%.
Prices have been slashed by 50 percent! 價格已經直降 50%!
-2. to cut or try to cut something violently with a knife, sword etc. 〔用刀、剑等〕猛削，劈，砍
Someone had slashed this tires. 有人把轮胎割破了.
The leopard’s claws slashed through soft flesh. 豹的爪子扎入柔软的肉里.
-3. slash your wrists: to cut the vein s in your wrists with the intention of killing yourself. 割腕（自杀）
- hearings:(n) [‘hɪərɪŋs] 聽證會 back
-1. A hearing is an official meeting which is held in order to collect facts about an incident or problem. 听证会
After more than two hours of pandemonium, the judge adjourned the hearing until next Tuesday. 在两个多小时的混乱之后，法官暂时中止了听证会，将其延至下周二.
-2. A person’s or animal’s hearing is the sense which makes it possible for them to be aware of sounds. 听力
His mind still seemed clear and his hearing was excellent. 他的头脑看来依然清醒，而且听力极好.
-3. If someone gives you a fair hearing or a hearing, they listen to you when you give your opinion about something. 发表意见的机会.
Weber gave a fair hearing to anyone who held a different opinion. Weber 让任何持有不同意见的人有发言的机会.
-4. If someone says something in your hearing or within your hearing, you can hear what they say because they are with you or near you. 某人听得见的范围内
No one spoke disparagingly of her father in her hearing. 没有人在她跟前说过她父亲的坏话.
- parliamentary:(a) [,pɑːlə’ment(ə)rɪ] 議會的 back
relating to or governed by a parliament. 议会的，国会的；由议会[国会]支配的
the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy. 世界上最古老的议会民主制.
- voluntary:(a) [‘vɒlənt(ə)rɪ] 自願的 back
-1. an organization etc that is organized or supported by people who give their money, services etc because they want to and who do not intend to make a profit. 志愿组织/协会/机构等
a voluntary organization providing help for the elderly. 为老年人提供帮助的志愿组织
environmental work carried out by the voluntary sector. 由志愿部门开展的环境保护工作
work etc that is done by people who do it because they want to, and who are not paid. 志愿工作/服务等
She does a lot of voluntary work for the Red Cross. 她为红十字会做大量的志愿工作.
a drop-in centre for homeless people, run on a voluntary basis. 志愿组织开办的无家可归者援助中心.
-2. done willingly and without being forced. 自愿的，自动的
Workders are being encouraged to take voluntary redundancy. 工人被鼓励主动离职.
-3. voluntary movements of your body are controlled by your conscious mind. 〔身体活动〕自主的，随意的，自由的.
- respect:(v) 重視 back
-1. the belief that something or someone is important and should not be harmed, treated rudely etc. 重视；顾及
The boys showed a complete lack of respect for authority. 这些男孩子根本无视权威.
[+ for ]
Out of respect for the wishes of her family, the affair was not reported in the media. 基于对她家人意愿的尊重，媒体没有报道这件事.
with respect
Your mother should be treated with respect. 理应尊重你的母亲.
-2. a feeling of admiring someone or what they do, especially because of their personal qualities, knowledge, or skills. 尊敬；敬重.
[+ for ]
I have the greatest respect for Jane’s work. 我非常钦佩 Jane 的工作成绩.
-3. with (the greatest) respect/with (all) due respect
say this before disagreeing with someone when you want to be polite. 不是我不尊敬你〔用于礼貌地表示不同意见〕
With respect, I think you’re wrong. 恕我冒昧，我想您是错了.
- impose:(v) [ɪm’pəʊz] 強制推行; 強制實行 back
-1. if someone in authority imposes a rule, punishment, tax etc, they force people to accept it. 强制推行；强制实行
The court can impose a fine. 法庭可以强制执行罚款.
impose sth on sth/sb
The governement imposed a ban on the sale of ivory. 政府禁止出售象牙.
-2. to force someone to have the same ideas, beliefs etc as you. 将〔想法、信仰等〕强加于〔某人〕
impose sth on sb
parents who impose their own moral values on their children. 把自己的道德观强加给孩子的父母.
-3. eo expect or ask someone to do something for you when this is not convenient for them. 打扰，麻烦
We could ask to stay the night, but I don’t want to impose on them. 我们可以要求留下来过夜，但我不想给他们添麻烦.
- norm:() [nɔːm] 標準, 規範 back
-1. the usual or normal situation, way of doing something etc. 常态；标准；准则；规范
Joyce’s style of writing was a striking departure from the literary norm. Joyce 的写作风格与传统的文学风格大相径庭。
Boys who default from gender norms of behaviour are deemed “sissies”; girls are “tomboys”. 與性別行為準則相違背的男孩被認為是”偽娘”, 女孩是”假小子”.
be/become the norm
Short term contracts are now the norm with some big companies. 签订短期合同是目前一些大公司的惯常做法.
-2. norms: generally accepted standards of social behaviour. 社会准则
terrorists who violate the norms of civilized society. 违反文明社会准则的恐怖分子
social/cultural etc norms. 社会/文化等准则
-3. the norm: the normal or average standard. 正常[平均]水平
above/below the norm
28% of children tested below the norm. 有28%的儿童化验结果低于正常水平
- intake:(n) [‘ɪnteɪk] 攝取量 back
-1. the amount of food, drink etc that you take into your body. 〔食物、饮料等的〕摄入量，摄取量，吸入量
[+ of ]
Try to reduce your intake of fat. 尽量减少脂肪的摄入量.
a high/low intake
a high intake of carbohydrates. 碳水化合物的大量摄入.
food/alcohol/calorie etc intake
Sickness may develop from inadequate fluid intake. 液体摄入不足会诱发疾病.
-2. the number of people who joinn a school, profession etc at a particular time. 〔学校、职业等的〕加入人数
[+ of]
an intake of around 120 students each year. 每年大约120人的招生名额.
-3. a tube, pipe, etc through which air, gas, or liquid enters a machine.〔机器上空气、气体或液体注入的〕管道，进口.
a leak on the air intake to the carburettor. 汽化器进气口的裂缝.
- excessive:(a) [ɪkˈsesɪv] 過多的 back
much more than is reasonable or necessary 过度的；过多的
His excessive drinking. 他的酗酒
$15 for two beers seems a little excessive. 两杯啤酒要15美元，似乎有点过分.
- cardiovascular:(a) [,kɑːdɪəʊ’væskjʊlə] 心血管的 back
relating to the heart and blood vessel s. 心血管的
cardiovascular disease. 心血管疾病
- fizzy:(a) [‘fɪzɪ] 起泡的 back
-1. a fizzy liquid contains bubbles of gas. 〔液体〕起泡的
fizzy water. 冒泡的水
-2. fizzy drink: a sweet non-alcoholic drink with bubbles of gas. 含气饮料
- levy:(n) [‘levɪ] 徵稅, 徵收 back
an additional sum of money, usually paid as a tax. 税款，税额
He wants to impose a levy on landfill waste. 他想对填埋的废弃物征税.
- levy:(v)
to officially say that people must pay a tax or charge. 征收，收取〔税项或费用〕
levy a tax/charge/fine etc (on sth)
a new tax levied on all electrical goods. 对所有电器商品征收的一种新税.
- ineffective:(a) [ɪnɪ’fektɪv] 不起作用的 back
something that is ineffective does not achieve what it is intended to achieve. 无效果的，不起作用的，不奏效的
an ineffective marketing campaign. 一场毫无成效的营销活动
ineffective in doing sth
The chemical was almost totally ineffective in killing the weeds. 这种化学品除杂草几乎一点用也没有.
[+ against ]
Various drugs have proved ineffective against the virus. 许多药物经证明都对这种病毒无效.
In everyday English, people usually say that something does not work rather than saying that it is ineffective.
These drugs don’t work against bird flu. 这些药对禽流感无效.
- manufacturers:(n) [mænjʊ’fæktʃə] 商品 back
-1. manufactures. goods that are produced in large quantities using machinery. 〔用机器大批量制造的〕商品
-2. the process of making goods or materials using machines, usually in large numbers or amounts. 〔大量商品的〕生产，制造
Cost will determine the methods of manufacture. 成本将决定生产方法.
- manufacture:(v)
-1. to use machines to make goods or materials, usually in large numbers or amounts. 〔用机器大量〕生产，制造
the company that manufactured the drug. 生产这种药的公司.
manufactured goods 工业品，制成品.
-2. to invent an untrue story, excuse etc 编造〔虚假故事、借口等〕
If the media can manufacture stories like this, who are we supposed to believe? 如果媒体可以编出这样的故事，我们还能相信谁呢？
-3. if your body manufactures a particular useful substance, it produces it. 〔人体〕生成〔某种有用的物质〕.
- sweetener:(n) [‘swiːt(ə)nə] 甜料 back
-1. a substance used to make food or drink taste sweeter. 甜味剂
No artificial sweeteners are used in this product. 本产品未使用人造甜味剂.
-2. something that you give to someone to persuade them to do something, especially to accept a business deal. 〔尤指为使某人接受商业交易而给予的〕甜头，笼络物.
These tax cuts are just a pre-election sweetener. 这些减税措施只不过是选举前用来笼络人心的东西.
- binding:(a) [‘baɪndɪŋ] 有約束力的 back
a binding contract/promise/agreement etc: a promise, agreement etc that must be obeyed. 具有约束力[必须履行]的合同/承诺/协议等
Once signed, these documents are legally binding. 一但被簽署, 這些文件就具有法律約束力.
- binding:(n)
-1. a book cover. 〔书籍的〕封面
-2. material sewn or stuck along the edge of a piece of cloth for strength or decoration. 镶边；滚边
- In the case of back
In case of: 萬一; 如果發生; 假設
You can count on me to help in case of difficulty. 如果有困难， 当助一臂之力.
In the case of: 至於; 在什麼情況下
- struck:() [strʌk] 打击，撞击（strike的过去式和过去分词） back
- sought:(v) [sɔːt] 寻找（seek的过去式和过去分词) back
- flour:(n) [‘flaʊə] 麵粉 back
a powder that is made by crushing wheat or other grain and is used for making bread, cakes etc. 面粉；谷物磨成的粉
white/wholemeal/rice/wheat etc flour 精白面粉/全麦面粉/米粉/小麦粉等.
- flour:(v)
to cover a surface with flour when you are cooking. 在…上撒面粉
Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured board. 把面团放在撒有少许面粉的案板上擀平.