How Much Water Is Hidden in Our Food?

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1. 01How Much Water Is Hidden in Our Food?

   Hello, everyone. We usually think about the water we drink or use for showers. But there is also water we never see: the water used to produce our food. Today, I'll show you some surprising numbers.

   大家好。我们通常会想到喝的水，或者洗澡用的水。但还有一种我们从来看不见的水：生产食物所用的水。今天，我要给大家看一些令人惊讶的数字。

2. 02What Is a Water Footprint?

   A water footprint is the total amount of water used to make a product. For meat, it includes the water used to grow animal feed, the water animals drink, and water for cleaning.

   水足迹是指生产一件产品所用的水的总量。对肉类来说，它包括种植动物饲料用的水、动物喝的水，以及清洁用的水。

3. 03The Numbers

   According to the Water Footprint Network, one kilogram of beef needs about fifteen thousand four hundred liters of water on average. Pork needs about six thousand, and chicken about four thousand three hundred.

   根据水足迹网络的数据，1公斤牛肉平均需要大约15,400升水。猪肉大约需要6,000升，鸡肉大约需要4,300升。

   Source: Water Footprint Network, "What can consumers do?" (based on Mekonnen & Hoekstra, Ecosystems, 2012)

4. 04Why Beef Needs So Much

   Why is beef so high? Most of the water is used to grow the animals' feed. Cattle live for years and eat a lot before they become food.

   为什么牛肉的用水量这么高？大部分的水都用来种植动物的饲料。牛要活好几年，在成为食物之前要吃很多东西。

5. 05A Picture to Remember

   Here's a picture to help you remember. The Water Footprint Network says the water footprint of two hundred grams of beef is about the same as forty-seven eight-minute showers.

   给大家一个好记的画面。水足迹网络说，200克牛肉的水足迹，大约相当于洗47次8分钟的淋浴。

   Source: Water Footprint Network, "What can consumers do?"

6. 06What We Can Do

   This doesn't mean we all have to stop eating meat. Small changes help, like choosing chicken or beans a few times a week, and not throwing away food, because wasted food means wasted water too.

   这并不意味着我们都必须不吃肉。小小的改变就有帮助，比如每周选几次鸡肉或豆类，还有不浪费食物，因为浪费食物也就是浪费水。

7. 07Conclusion

   To sum up, every meal has hidden water. Knowing the numbers helps us make better choices. Next time you order a burger, remember those forty-seven showers. Thank you.

   总之，每一餐都藏着看不见的水。了解这些数字，能帮助我们做出更好的选择。下次你点汉堡的时候，记得想想那47次淋浴。谢谢大家。