Should fast food sponsor sport? - 6 Minute English

Is it right for companies selling unhealthy products to sponsor sporting events? Why do some companies that make unhealthy food and drinks advertise during the Olympics? That's what Sam and Neil talk about, as they teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question
McDonalds had a long history with the Olympic Games until the company ended the partnership ahead of the 2024 games in Paris. But why did McDonalds choose to quit? Was it because:
a) they wanted to change the name of French fries to McFries?
b) they didn’t want to call their hamburger, ‘Le Big Mac’? or,
c) they wanted to be the only company selling cheese for cheeseburgers?

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
sponsor
pay for an event or tournament in order to advertise a company or brand in return

fast food
hot, often unhealthy, food such as hamburgers or pizza that is quick to cook and serve

brand attachment
a deep emotional connection between humans and brands

health halo
the perception that something is healthy for you even though there is little evidence to support this

ultra-processed food
foods containing added artificial ingredients that you wouldn’t add when cooking homemade food

beverage
any type of drink

To download the audio and a transcript, go to:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-211104

[Cover: Getty Images]

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