【新闻精讲】

Woe, however, to the scientist incautious enough to challenge the party line exonerating sugar. Mr Taubes tells the story of John Yudkin, a nutritionist at the University of London. In the 1960s, Yudkin proposed that obesity, diabetes and heart disease were linked with sugar consumption. Though he acknowledged that existing research, his own included, was incomplete, he became embroiled in a scientific spitting match with Ancel Keys, a well-known American researcher. Keys, whose work on dietary fat as the prime cause of coronary disease had been supported by the Sugar Association for years, ridiculed Yudkin, calling his evidence a “mountain of nonsense.” The clash—Mr Taubes calls it a “takedown” of Yudkin—is a sad chapter in what Robert Lustig, a paediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco, calls “a long and sordid history of dietary professionals in the U.S. who have been paid off by industry”. When Yudkin retired as chair of his department in 1971, the university replaced him with an adherent of the dietary-fat theory.
Because research specific to sugar’s deleterious effects is wanting, the science, Mr Taubes concedes, is not definitive. But it is compelling. The case against sugar is gaining traction. In October the World Health Organisation urged all countries to impose a tax on sugary drinks. Mexico had already done so in 2013. In America cities including Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco are following suit. Britain will implement a soft-drink levy in 2018. South Africa and the Philippines have measures under consideration. Perhaps at long last, sugar is getting its just desserts.

【精讲文本】
Woe, however, to the scientist incautious enough to challenge the party line exonerating sugar. Mr Taubes tells the story of John Yudkin, a nutritionist at the University of London. In the 1960s, Yudkin proposed that obesity, diabetes and heart disease were linked with sugar consumption.
然而，曾有科学家轻率地向“糖无害”这种标准教条发起挑战而招来灾祸。陶布斯在书中讲述了伦敦大学营养学家约翰•尤德金（John Yudkin）的故事。20世纪60年代，尤德金提出肥胖、糖尿病和心脏病与糖摄入有关。
woe n.灾祸 (ruinous trouble)
- economic woes
incautious adj.不谨慎的 (careless)
- He offended several people with his incautious remarks.
exonerate v. 证明无罪(to prove not guilty)
- The result of the DNA fingerprinting exonerated the man, but only after he had wasted 10 years in prison.
propose v.提出
consumption n.消耗

Though he acknowledged that existing research, his own included, was incomplete, he became embroiled in a scientific spitting match with Ancel Keys, a well-known American researcher. Keys, whose work on dietary fat as the prime cause of coronary disease had been supported by the Sugar Association for years, ridiculed Yudkin, calling his evidence a “mountain of nonsense.”
虽然他承认现有的研究——包括他自己的在内——都还不完整，却还是卷入了与美国知名研究人员安塞尔•基斯（Ancel Keys）的一场科学界口水战。基斯关于膳食脂肪是冠心病主要原因的研究工作多年来一直受到美国糖业协会的支持，他对尤德金冷嘲热讽，称他的证据是“一派胡言”。
existing adj.现存的，目前的
embroiled adj.卷入的
- embroil v.卷入纠纷
- They were embroiled in a complicated lawsuit.
spitting match 口水战
- spit n./v.唾沫
prime adj.主要的
ridicule v.嘲笑
- They ridiculed him for the way he dressed.
nonsense n.一派胡言

The clash—Mr Taubes calls it a “takedown” of Yudkin—is a sad chapter in what Robert Lustig, a paediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco, calls “a long and sordid history of dietary professionals in the U.S. who have been paid off by industry”. When Yudkin retired as chair of his department in 1971, the university replaced him with an adherent of the dietary-fat theory.
加州大学旧金山分校的儿科内分泌学家罗伯特•拉斯特格（Robert Lustig）曾提到“美国膳食营养专家被行业收买的漫长而肮脏的历史”，而被陶布斯称为“打倒”尤德金的那场冲突是其中令人悲哀的篇章。1971年，尤德金从系主任的位置上退休后，伦敦大学选择了一个膳食脂肪理论的追随者取代了他。
clash n.冲突
takedown n.打倒
paediatric adj.儿科的
endocrinologist n.内分泌学家
sordid adj.肮脏的，不诚实的
- He shared the sordid details of his past.
professional n.专业人士
pay off 给钱，使受益
retire v.退休
adherent n.支持者
- adhere v.粘着，追随

Because research specific to sugar’s deleterious effects is wanting, the science, Mr Taubes concedes, is not definitive. But it is compelling. The case against sugar is gaining traction. In October the World Health Organisation urged all countries to impose a tax on sugary drinks.
由于针对糖的有害影响尚研究不足，陶布斯承认目前在科学上还没有最终定论，但已十分有说服力，针对糖的指控也正逐渐获得认同。去年10月，世界卫生组织敦促所有国家对含糖饮料征税。
deleterious adj.有害的 (harmful)
- The chemical is deleterious to the environment.
wanting adj.缺乏的
concede v.不得不承认 (accept in an unwilling way)
- “Your plan might work,” she conceded, “but I still think mine is better.”
definitive adj.确定的
compelling adj.有说服力的
- compel v.强迫，使发生
- Hunger compelled him to eat.
traction n.牵引力
urge v.力劝
- He is continually urging reform.
impose v.强迫施加
- impose new restriction.

Mexico had already done so in 2013. In America cities including Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco are following suit. Britain will implement a soft-drink levy in 2018. South Africa and the Philippines have measures under consideration. Perhaps at long last, sugar is getting its just desserts.
墨西哥已经在2013年实施这一政策；美国的芝加哥、费城和旧金山等城市也都纷纷效仿；英国将于2018年征收软饮税；南非和菲律宾也正在考虑相关措施。也许，糖终于要掉进自己的甜蜜陷阱了。
follow suit 照着做
implement v.执行
levy n.征税
measure n.办法
at long last 最终
just desserts (just deserts) 活该如此
- get/receive one’s just deserts/desserts (to be punished or rewarded in a manner appropriate to one’s actions or behavior)