How long is the shelf life of disposable chopsticks?

Go out to eat, order takeaway, disposable chopsticks are always indispensable. Picking up the chopsticks to solve a meal, the whole process is only half an hour. However, during this half-hour "close contact" with chopsticks, you may have already eaten E. coli into your stomach because of disposable chopsticks. They are not "in service" indefinitely, and their shelf life is generally 4 months. On August 6th, the reporter visited the street restaurant in Zhengzhou. About the shelf life of disposable chopsticks, almost no business owner can make it clear.

Visit: There are restaurants that can't tell the shelf life of disposable chopsticks

On August 6, the reporter visited the street restaurant in Zhengzhou randomly. There are currently three types of disposable chopsticks used in restaurants in Zhengzhou:

The first type is flat wooden chopsticks that are relatively simple in packaging. They are not individually packaged and are bundled into a snakeskin bag. The price is also relatively cheap. The price of a snake-skin bag with a length of about one meter is less than 100 yuan. Generally, small-scale independent stores run their own purchases in the wholesale market.

The second type is ordinary packaging of bamboo chopsticks, which are individually packaged with OPP film or PV film. Among them, bamboo chopsticks with "Shenlong Bay" are more common; they are generally distributed by the main store of the chain store, or the manufacturer delivers them.

The third type is a package of more luxurious bamboo chopsticks. The paper bag contains disposable chopsticks, disposable plastic spoons, napkins, and toothpicks. It is generally used by chain restaurants, and the restaurant name is printed on the package. It is regularly distributed by the headquarters.

In the dozens of restaurants visited, depending on the sales situation and the number of purchases, the time spent by the store to purchase a batch of disposable chopsticks is roughly half a month to two months.

According to the relevant standards, disposable chopsticks must be marked with a valid production date and shelf life in the production process, in order to prevent the chopsticks from being stored for too long and causing mildew, which is harmful to the health of consumers.

However, according to the reporter's observation, no matter whether it is the packaging of disposable chopsticks or the shop selling disposable chopsticks, the shelf life of chopsticks is not indicated; even in the dozens of restaurants visited by reporters, no restaurant owner knows that they have purchased it. How long is the shelf life of disposable chopsticks?

"Half a year."

"I don't know, is there a year?"

“The disposable chopsticks have no shelf life, and everyone uses the same.”

Although the store managers also said that when they buy disposable chopsticks, they will look at the quality of chopsticks. Molds with moldy or scent will not be bought, but the shelf life of disposable chopsticks is unheard of. Consumers are even more ignorant of the fact that they are dealing with disposable chopsticks.

Diner: I have never heard of disposable chopsticks and shelf life.

Ms. Zhao of Zhengzhou said that she is an office worker. Because she is busy, she needs to take out her take-out at all times. She has at least one set of disposable tableware for a long time. It takes a long time and she has a lot of work on her desk. She did not pay attention to the shelf life of this tableware and often used it when I picked it up. "These cutlery has not been used by anyone at least, and I feel a little relieved." Ms. Zhao told reporters that she knows that food and medicine have a shelf life, and I never know that chopsticks have a shelf life.

Ms. Zhang is a treasured mother. She chooses cutlery when she goes out to eat. She is more careful. “If I eat at a restaurant and the restaurant has a normal operation of the disinfection cabinet, I usually use disinfected tableware. But if I go to eat food stalls and night markets, I would rather choose disposable chopsticks because the disinfection standards for the food stalls are definitely not high. Ms. Zhang told reporters that she did not observe it carefully when using tableware. I have never heard of disposable chopsticks and have a shelf life.

The reporter also interviewed several citizens randomly. More than half of them were afraid that the disinfection chopsticks provided by the restaurant would not be disinfected in place. Many people used it to carry germs and chose disposable chopsticks. Some citizens said: "It is not good to know that disposable chopsticks are not good, but they are often ignored when eating.

Hazard: The longest shelf life is 4 months, expires with E. coli

In 2006, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine promulgated the “Regulations on the Implementation of Packaging Instruments for Foodstuffs”, which clearly stipulates that the packaging of chopsticks should clearly indicate that “disinfected disposable tableware can be kept for up to 4 months, and cannot be resold after the expiration date. use".

So, what harm do the disposable chopsticks of "overdue service" have?

The disposable chopsticks are subjected to sulfur fumigation and hydrogen peroxide bleaching. When we use disposable chopsticks to eat, disposable chopsticks will release sulfur when exposed to heat, which may erode our respiratory mucosa and impair our respiratory function. Hydrogen peroxide is a highly corrosive chemical that can cause damage to the mouth, esophagus and even the gastrointestinal tract and impair digestion.

If it is an expired, moldy chopstick, it is even more harmful.

Some expired disposable chopsticks will faintly appear some black and green mildew spots. In fact, these mildew spots are aflatoxins. Expired disposable chopsticks contain Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and carcinogen aflatoxin. It can induce the occurrence of liver cancer.

Tips: Correct use of disposable chopsticks, 4 points to remember

How to distinguish the quality of disposable chopsticks and use disposable chopsticks correctly? Please note the following four points:

First, look for abnormal black spots on the chopsticks, or excessively white and shiny. If there are dark spots or the colors are too bright, you don't need them.

Secondly, take a chopstick and smell it. If you have a sour taste, you don't need it.

Also, try to fold it again. It is easy to break without elasticity. After breaking, it will appear red inside or white inside, and it will be accompanied by a pungent smell. After breaking, there are slender fibers, and the chopsticks with elasticity, smooth surface, and slight bamboo fragrance can be used with confidence.

Experts suggest that whether it is disposable chopsticks or disinfected chopsticks, it is recommended that the chopsticks be cleaned again with cold or boiled water during use. Of course, from the perspective of health and environmental protection, we should promote eating and eating chopsticks.

By Best Chopsticks