THE SUGAR INDUSTRY
I. Individual survey
1. Do you consume sugary drinks even when you aren’t thirsty?
A. Yes, all the time.
B. Yes, but rarely.
C. No, I don’t really do that.
2. Which treats do you prefer, salty or sweet?
A. Salty
B. Sweet
C. Both
3. Did you have a sweet tooth (to like food that contains a lot of sugar) when you were little?
A. Of course, I used to love all sorts of sweets but now I don’t.
B. Well, I still have a craving for sweetened desserts and snacks.
C. To be honest, I now consume a lot more sugary snacks than when I was a kid.
II. Video-watching
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-sugar-affects-the-brain-nicole-avena#watch
Watch a video from TED-ed. Write down
● all types of food that contain sugar - e.g. cereal (Vi, Thang, Trum, Hiền, Sy)
● all phrases/chunks with the word “sugar” in them e.g. more sugar is added (Khoi, Alice,
John, Anh)
Sugary food Chunks with “sugar”
ice cream; ketchup; juice increase tolerance to sugar
candies, cakes, sugary food
Fruit, chocolate, ice cream, sugar-rich food
Yogurt, chocolate cake, waffle, fruit raw sugar
juice,honey, cookies, ( glucose, fructose),
sugar-free
cereal
produce more insulin to digest sugar
cookie
since sugar is everywhere
glucose
sucrose
Watch again and answer the following questions
1. Sugars are ________________ processed foods such as tomato sauce, dried fruit, and granola
bars.
A. Added to
B. Removed from
C. Either added to nor removed from
D. Activated in
2. Sugar ___________ the brain’s reward system.
A. Destroys
B. Represses= control
C. Activates
D. Does nothing to
3. Overstimulation of the reward system may result in
A. Loss of control
B. Craving
C. Increased tolerance
D. All of the above
4. What important chemical in the brain is changed in response to sugar ingestion?
A. Melanin
B. Insulin
C. Urea
D. Dopamine
5. What kind of diet has an effect in the brain that is similar to eating a balanced meal?
A. Eating sugary foods once in a while
B. Eating sugary foods all the time
C. Eating only processed foods
D. Eating about 4 sugar cubes before each meal
THE SUGAR INDUSTRY
Is it time to wean ourselves off sugar?
1. Do you have a sweet tooth? Most people do, though some people seem to be born with a
stronger preference for sugar than others. Regardless of whether or not our preference for sugar is
innate, most health professionals agree that our sugar intake needs to be regulated. First and
foremost, sugary food and beverages should be considered a treat, not a staple.
2. Who is to blame for our sugar cravings? Many people point the finger at the sugar industry.
Some say that sugar is the new tobacco. Like the tobacco industry, the sugar industry has been
accused of using tactics to reduce consumers’ health concerns. In the US and Australia, the sugar
industry has blocked changes to dietary guidelines that would limit sugar consumption, except in a
few local communities. Likewise, beverage and confectionery companies have funded research
efforts to convince consumers that sugar does not pose a health hazard.
3. While most consumers are unaware of these behind-the-scene tactics, most adults know that
excess sugar can cause tooth decay, diabetes, and obesity. Children, on the other hand, only know
what tastes good! Should we be pointing the finger at parents? Some parents and teachers reward
children with sugary treats. What about advertisers? Should companies be allowed to market
sugary products to kids?
4. Some governments, including the UK, have imposed a sugar tax on sweetened beverages. Is this a
step in the right direction? While a tax can’t prevent diabetes and obesity, it might remind buyers
that there is no dietary need for fizzy drinks. Do we need a reminder? Many consumers feel that it’s
up to the individual to monitor consumption. Would you cut back on sugar if you had to pay more
for sugary products? Is giving up sugar as tough as giving up cigarettes?
III. Vocabulary building
Find words (in bold) that match the following meanings:
......regulate........... (v.): to control
...craving.............. (n.): a strong feeling of wanting
......staple.. (n.): a main part of one’s diet
.......consumption (n.): the eating or drinking of something
(inf)..........wean sb off... (v.): to slowly cut back on
(inf)........sweet tooth ........ (n.): a preference for sugary foods and drinks
..........excess....... (adj.): too much of something
...........innate...... (n.): natural, born with (not learned)
(inf).........point the figure........ (v.): to accuse someone specific
.......tactic.......... (n.): a strategy to achieve a goal
IV. Agree or disagree
Put A for agree and D for disagree.
● That’s nonsense!D
● I don’t think so.D
● That’s precisely the point.AA
● No way!DD
● I don’t believe that.DD
● That’s for sure. A
● That’s absolutely correct.A
● I can’t agree with you more.AA
V. Discussion question
The first half of the question is from the reading. The second half, however, is your personal
opinion. You have 3 minutes to prepare your answer.
1. What industry is compared to the sugar industry in this reading, and why? Do you agree with
this?
2. What does the reading say about confectionery companies? Do you agree with this?
3. According to this reading, how do parents contribute to childhood obesity? Do you agree with
this?
Let’s spin the wheel and discuss with your partner. The other three group members have to
say whether you agree or disagree with your group mate.
1. What industry is compared to the sugar industry in this reading, and why? Trum? Like the
tobacco industry, the sugar industry has been accused of using tactics to reduce consumers’
health concerns.
Do you agree with this?
AGREE DISAGREE
John - I have the same idea with the text. Sỹ tobacco, they are using tactics to reduce
Since they are called industry, what they want consumer's health concerns. Do not agree, for
to raise is the interest. They can do whatever tobacco, we can live without it but for sugar,
they can to stop the trains of thoughts which it is another story because of the nutritional
go against that, including affecting authorities' benefits offered to people
decisions and research. Trum
Khoi - they are all unhealthy products, and
people get addicted when using them
Thang: the sugar effect is as harmful as the
tobacco impact. About the sugar industry,
specifically, they also make use of some
traditional festivals or some national events to
advertise their products
Vi - It’s hard to say but I agree with that
2. What does the reading say about confectionery companies? Sy - manipulating the consumers
Do you agree with this?
AGREE DISAGREE
Sỹ - That is absolutely correct, because of John I do not agree because at least the
company’s profit, they have to do some products from those company are not
marketing tricks related to business affair to completely causing bad effects on health, as it
increase their output despite the also depends on our consumption
misconception created. “It’s not about the product that is unhealthy,
Vi - Confectionery company is lying about it’s all about the amount”
sugar is not harmful for health. People are
dying for diabetes more than tobacco Trum The advertisements from the business
company. are very attractive, but the consumer can
Thang - i agree, there is no doubt that all the choose whether to do it or not
companies's purpose is to concertrate on
profit, they put money on top, to worship the
power of dosh
3. According to this reading, how do parents contribute to childhood obesity? Reward children
with sugary treats
Do you agree with this?
AGREE DISAGREE
John Khoi - same idea with Thang, toys, trips, ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch? Disagree
v=go_QOzc79Uc&t=462s Thang - disagree, there are many ways for
parents to reward their children.
Sỹ- monetary reward
