Reading Skills 2

1. BBC Learning English
Words in the News
Eating 64-year-old food
6th February 2012
In these tough economic times many people are making their food go a little further than
they perhaps used to. And for many that might mean ignoring the best before date, but
one German man has taken it to the extreme by eating the contents of a 64-year-old tin.
The BBC's Jonathan Josephs reports:
In the late 1940's the United States was helping Germany overcome the hardships of
the second World War. Food parcels were a vital part of the rebuilding effort and Swift's
bland lard was one of the less exciting ingredients. But it was apparently durable. The
tin with its red, white and blue label still intact survived in Hans Feldmeier's cupboard. So
the 87-year-old retired chemist decided to test its edibility:
(CLIP OF HANS FELDMEIER WITH VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH) "I didn't open it because I
thought the situation could get even worse. I hope that we are not running into tough
times like we had after World War II, even despite the financial crisis we are facing."
And his gamble paid off. The tests run by scientists in his home town of Rostock showed
it was indeed fit for consumption, saving Mr Feldmeier a precious few Euros. But he did
fork out on a loaf of black bread on which it was spread before he and the scientists ate
it. So what did it taste like?
(CLIP OF FEMALE EMPLOYEE OF OFFICE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SAFETY AND
FISHERIES WITH VOICEOVER IN ENGLISH) "I thought it would taste rancid, but it
doesn't. I'm totally surprised that it shows absolutely no sign of rancidity."
The tin bore no expiry date, so to adapt an old saying, it seems the proof of the lard, if
not the pudding, really was in the eating.
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com

2. Vocabulary and definitions
hardships difficult conditions
food parcels packages of food given to people who have very little
to eat
lard firm white substance made from melted fat and used
for cooking
durable long lasting without loosing quality
edibility suitability for eating
paid off was a success
fit for consumption edible
fork out spend a lot of money
rancid unpleasant because it is no longer fresh
bore showed
More on this story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16852830
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/02/120206_witn_lard.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com