(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
California Judge Rules Coffee Needs Cancer Warning
A judge has ruled that coffee sellers in California must warn people that coffee may contain a substance linked to cancer.
The Council for Education and Research on Toxics brought a case against dozens of coffee companies in 2010. The not-for-profit group wanted the coffee industry to either remove the chemical acrylamide from its processing, or warn buyers about it.
Acrylamide has been identified as a possible cancer-causing substance. The chemical is naturally produced during cooking at high temperatures, including during the roasting of coffee beans.
California state law requires warnings to be written on products containing chemicals identified as possible causes of cancer or birth defects.
The coffee industry had argued that the amount of acrylamide resulting from the coffee-making process is not enough to cause harm. Starbucks and other major producers have cited studies suggesting that coffee provides several health benefits.
But Los Angeles Judge Elihu Berle ruled Wednesday the companies had failed to prove that acrylamide levels in coffee do not cause harmful effects.
Coffee companies have resisted calls to remove acrylamide from their products, saying it would change the taste of the drinks.
In a statement, the National Coffee Association criticized the ruling and said it was considering an appeal and other possible legal actions.
"Cancer warning labels on coffee would be misleading," the statement said. "The U.S. government's own Dietary Guidelines state that coffee can be part of a healthy lifestyle."
Many coffee stores already have put up warnings saying acrylamide is a cancer-causing chemical found in coffee. But such signs are often put in places not easily seen by buyers.
The lawsuit also seeks civil punishments as large as $2,500 per person for every incident of exposure to acrylamide at California coffee stores since 2002. Those punishments could reach huge amounts in California, which has a population of nearly 40 million.
The ruling does not become final until April 10, giving coffee companies the chance to dispute the decision and seek an appeal.
I'm Bryan Lynn.
重点解析
1.as large as 与...一样大；高达
The total livestock number is twice as large as it was last year.
牲畜存栏总头数比去年增加了一倍。
2.birth defects 先天缺陷
They also found a way to reduce these drug-caused birth defects.
他们也发现了一种减少这类药物引起的先天缺陷的方法。
3.linked to 与...有关
All of these industries have at one time or another been linked to cancer.
所有这些产业都曾在不同时期与癌症有过联系。
4.health benefits 健康益处
Studies about the mental health and physical health benefits of pets abound.
有关宠物给人们精神健康和身体健康带来的好处的研究比比皆是。
5.But Los Angeles Judge Elihu Berle ruled Wednesday the companies had failed to prove that acrylamide levels in coffee do not cause harmful effects.
harmful effects 有害影响
We expect to be protected against electrical power failure and the harmful effects of pollution.
我们还希望能远离电力故障和污染的有害影响。
Institutions have harmful effects on children.
收容机构对儿童有不良影响。
6.The Council for Education and Research on Toxics brought a case against dozens of coffee companies in 2010.
bring against 控诉
That is a heavy charge which you bring against yourself.
这是你对自己提出的最大的控诉了。
What accusations do you bring against this man?
你们对这个人有什么指控？
参考译文
咖啡致癌！加州法院要求星巴克标注警示
一名法官裁定称，加州的咖啡销售人员必须提醒消费者，咖啡可能含有致癌物质。
2010年，有毒物质教育与研究委员会对数十家咖啡公司提起诉讼。该公益组织希望，咖啡企业能够从加工过程中去除化学物质丙烯酰胺或者直接警告消费者。
丙烯酰胺被列为一种可能致癌的物质。这种化学物质会在高温烹饪过程中自然产生，包括咖啡豆的烘焙过程。
加州法律要求，那些含有可能致癌或导致先天缺陷的化学物质的产品须贴有警告标志。
咖啡企业认为，咖啡制作过程中产生的少量丙烯酰胺不足以对人体造成危害。星巴克和其他主要生产商也援引一些研究表明，咖啡有益健康。
然而，洛杉矶法官伊莱休·伯利（Elihu Berle）周三裁定，这些公司无法证明咖啡的丙烯酰胺含量不会造成有害影响。
咖啡公司拒绝响应从产品中去除丙烯酰胺的要求，他们称这会改变咖啡的口感。
国家咖啡协会在一份声明中批评了这项裁定，并表示正考虑上诉及采取其他法律行动。
该声明称：“咖啡的致癌警告标签会误导大众。美国政府的膳食指南规定，喝咖啡属于健康的生活方式。”
许多咖啡店已经张贴警告称，咖啡含有的丙烯酰胺为致癌化学物质。但这些警告标志通常位于不起眼的区域。
自2002年起，消费者若在加州咖啡店内因丙烯酰胺受损，每人可申请最高2500美元的民事赔偿。加州拥有近4000万人口，这项处罚可能数额巨大。
这一裁决将于4月10日最终生效，期间咖啡公司可对裁决提出异议或寻求上诉。
布莱恩·林恩为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
