Why do Koreans like to use "stainless steel chopsticks"? Not just for "environmental protection"

Friends who like to watch Korean dramas or eat Korean food know that Korean tableware is usually made of stainless steel. They are as small as chopsticks and spoons, as large as rice bowls and soup bowls, and they are all made of stainless steel.

For Chinese who are accustomed to using porcelain or wooden tableware, stainless steel tableware looks cold and may even affect appetite. Why do Koreans like to use "stainless steel chopsticks"? Not just for "environmental protection".

As early as the Baekje period (18 BC – 660 AD), the Korean royal family at that time used silver chopsticks to detect whether food contained poisons and because silver was pure, silver elements were sterilized and disinfected to protect the health Function, the habit of using silver metal tableware began to spread from the Korean royal family. Koreans love metal tableware, and their special eating habits and cooking methods are inseparable.

Among our Chinese chopsticks and spoons, chopsticks are used more, but compared to "Tang Kok" Korea, soup is essential for every meal. Like us, Korean spoons are basically made of silver. It is not unusual that Korean chopsticks are also made of silver in order to be paired. Koreans can eat without chopsticks, but the habit of having a spoon must continue.

Although metal chopsticks don't feel as good as wooden chopsticks, Koreans like to eat barbecue and kimchi. These foods are very suitable for grabbing with stainless steel chopsticks. Wooden chopsticks are easy to mold and difficult to clean. Instead, metal chopsticks are less likely to breed bacteria and are easy to clean. Easy to disinfect.

Moreover, the South Korean law stipulates that all business establishments such as restaurants, shops, and supermarkets are prohibited from providing disposable tableware. If the amount of violation tickets is considerable, it is not only environmentally friendly but also has a longer service life than ordinary wooden chopsticks. Koreans who love to barbecue use metal Chopsticks no longer have to worry about eating and eating chopsticks that have burned completely.

By MZ Chopsticks

Bamboo chopsticks are the best choice for eating. How to use chopsticks to be healthier?

Living standards are getting higher and higher, and people are becoming more and more particular about their diet. Not only do they pursue the color, aroma, and taste of food, but even chopsticks must be carefully selected. At present, there are many kinds of chopsticks on the market, and there are many kinds of chopsticks. How can I choose chopsticks that can be used healthily? What should I pay attention to when using chopsticks?

How to use chopsticks for healthier

When using chopsticks, there must be choices, and in some cases, during our choice of chopsticks, bamboo chopsticks are the first choice and the best choice. It is non-toxic, harmless, environmentally friendly, and the cheapest of all chopsticks. Good quality bamboo chopsticks will not deform when exposed to high temperatures.

Use chopsticks after a period of time. We should use chopsticks every 3 months or replace them every six months. Do n’t think that the chopsticks can be washed and the bacteria on it Don't underestimate it. After cleaning the tableware every day after meals, do not put chopsticks directly in the cabinet or drawer. Be sure to dry thoroughly before storing it. It is best to store in a ventilated place. Chopstick buckets sold in supermarkets have a sink at the bottom and a lid on it. It must be noted that before the chopsticks are dry, do not cover the lid, but also clean the sink every day, otherwise, it is a sanitary dead corner, it is easy to breed bacteria and moldy hair.

When using chopsticks, some colored chopsticks are best not to use. Painted chopsticks are very beautiful and their shapes have changed a lot, but it is these beautiful chopsticks that I do n’t recommend to use in everyday life. Because of the heavy metals, lead, and organic solvent benzene in paint, there are many unknown hidden dangers to the body and affect health.

Use chopsticks to prevent infection

When eating, people often put a few or a dozen pairs of chopsticks on the same plate to add vegetables. In fact, mixed chopsticks can easily contaminate various bacteria. Studies have found that many germs are transmitted through chopsticks. According to tests, a pair of unclean chopsticks may carry tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of bacteria and viruses. Once people use such chopsticks, they are susceptible to related diseases such as hepatitis, dysentery, typhoid fever, and acute gastroenteritis. When parents use chopsticks to feed their children, or many people at the table use chopsticks to clamp the same dish, these pathogenic microorganisms will spread through the chopsticks, causing cross-infection. This should not be underestimated, the chopsticks at home should be dedicated.

The practice has proved that washed chopsticks are not "clean." After using a pair of chopsticks for a long time, the surface will no longer be smooth, and frequent rubbing will also easily make the chopsticks rough. Many small bacteria and detergents will remain in the small grooves on the chopsticks. In this case, there are many opportunities for the disease. It is recommended to change chopsticks at home once every six months.

New chopsticks should be washed thoroughly

In addition to removing the viruses and bacteria accumulated during production and transportation, the newly purchased chopsticks must also remove certain chemicals left on the packaging. After buying the chopsticks, first, rinse them with water, then rinse with detergent, and finally put them in the pot and boil them for 30 minutes. In addition, there will be some fine thorns on the newly purchased bamboo chopsticks, which must be carefully removed. If the newly purchased chopsticks have a strange smell, you can soak them in water with vinegar for 30 minutes or boil them with tea for 30 minutes. If the trademark on the chopsticks is difficult to remove, you can use a hairdryer to blow the heat so that the trademark can be removed. You can also use medical alcohol, high spirits, and wind oil to remove the trademark, and the effect is very good.

Always clean the chopsticks thoroughly, and try not to rub the whole chopsticks under the tap, so the chopsticks that are cleaned can easily breed bacteria. The correct cleaning method should be to first rinse the surface of the chopsticks with clean water, then use detergent to clean it, and finally put it in a disinfection cupboard to disinfect and dry. If there is no disinfection facility, you can thoroughly clean the body's moisture. Drain and place in the chopstick box.

By Best Chopsticks

New rule! Catering industry does not actively provide disposable chopsticks

When I go to a restaurant for dinner, the waiter does not actively provide disposable chopsticks. Is the service bad?

Not so. Due to the need for environmental protection, disposable items should be reduced in use, and this provision is intended to be written into legal provisions.

On the 23rd, the 15th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress was held in Beijing, and the revised draft of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes (hereinafter referred to as the "revised draft") was submitted for the second review.

It is clear that tourism, catering and other industries should gradually implement the non-active provision of disposable items.

A large amount of solid waste encroaching on space and polluting the environment urgently needs the attention of every citizen. The revised draft of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution Caused by Solid Wastes submitted for consideration this time, in addition to regulating and guiding enterprises, has many provisions that require the active participation of the public.

In response to the draft of the first review, members of the Standing Committee and representatives suggested that the principle of prevention and control of environmental pollution by solid waste be clearly defined as reduction, recycling, harmlessness, and enrichment of relevant content. Therefore, the second draft of the revised draft has added relevant regulations, making it clear that the state encourages and guides to reduce the use of disposable plastic products such as plastic bags, and promotes the application of recyclable, degradable, and replaceable products.

For disposable items such as disposable chopsticks provided in restaurants, the revised draft specifies that tourism, catering and other industries should gradually promote the provision of non-active disposable items. Offices of government agencies, enterprises and institutions shall use environmentally friendly products, equipment, and facilities, and reduce the use of disposable office supplies.

Aiming at the problem of garbage classification, members of the Standing Committee and other members proposed to revise the draft to further improve the domestic garbage classification system. Therefore, the second review draft has added regulations: the classification of domestic waste shall be implemented in accordance with the principles of government promotion, participation of the whole people, urban and rural coordination, measures tailored to local conditions, and ease of implementation; local people's governments at or above the county level shall establish and improve a coordination mechanism for the classification of domestic waste and strengthen the management of domestic waste classification Capacity building; units and individuals that produce domestic waste should fulfill the obligations of domestic waste reduction and classified release according to law, and bear the responsibility of domestic waste producers; agencies, institutions, state-owned enterprises, etc. should play a leading role in the classification of domestic waste, etc.

In addition, the revised draft further improved the government and its related departments' responsibility for the prevention and control of environmental pollution caused by solid waste and added a chapter on "safeguard measures"; further improved legal responsibilities.

By Best Chopsticks

What do you think of the charge for disposable chopsticks?

Recently, the Peking Municipality's Regulations on the Management of Domestic Garbage was revised and passed, requiring catering operators, catering delivery service providers, and hotel operating units not to actively provide consumers with disposable chopsticks, forks, spoons, toiletries, etc. and should be eye-catching Prompt identification.

So, how is the provision of takeaway disposable tableware in Zhengzhou? How to solve the dilemma of takeaway garbage?

Zhengzhou has not managed the segmentation of takeaway garbage

Recently, Henan Business Daily interviewed several consumers who often order food. Some interviewees said that when ordering takeaways, they would ask for a few extra cutlery, so when they occasionally eat other things, they can use it directly, which is very convenient. Some interviewees also said that because of the long-term take-out, there was a lot of unwanted disposable tableware in the home.

According to Zhao Yaomin, a teacher of the School of Materials and Chemical Engineering of Central Plains Institute of Technology, the disposable tableware and tableware packaging bags on the market are mostly made of polyethylene, polyester, and polystyrene. Such materials cannot be buried in the soil. Decomposed. "At present, there is no particularly good way to recycle this kind of garbage." Zhao Yasmin said.

The relevant staff of Zhengzhou Urban Management Bureau said, "At present, Zhengzhou has not yet broken down and managed the takeaway garbage. It can only find solutions at the source and encourage consumers to reduce their use. Zhengzhou Urban Management Bureau can only coordinate with relevant bureau committees. Requests for reduced use will be made in next year's waste classification scheme. "

Takeaway merchants place disposable tableware as "subconscious action"

In fact, as early as 2017, there was an “Environment-free” environmental protection option available on takeaway platforms. Users can check this option when ordering, and they can also get ant forest energy rewards.

A reporter from Henan Business Daily visited a number of restaurants near University Road in Zhengzhou and found that most merchants defaulted to place tableware according to the number of meals. Some businesses even think that if customers complain about it because they do n’t put tableware, resupply will bring more cost pressure.

"Environmental orders will have one or two orders every week, the number is particularly small. Sometimes, even if I see the environmental order, I will still place the tableware according to the default quantity. It is convenient to order takeaways in case he checks it himself Wrong, what if I find that there is no tableware giving me a bad review? "Said Zhang Mengke, a cashier at a tomato sauce noodle shop on the university road.

A reporter from Henan Business Daily randomly ordered fried rice at a shop on the aforementioned takeaway platform and chose the option of “no tableware required”. Sure enough, while receiving the energy of the ant forest, he still received disposable tableware.

In this regard, the relevant person in charge of the platform said that it will continue to propagate to the merchants and change the merchants' concept of "more than not less" for tableware distribution. In addition, the "no tableware" remarks will be displayed in bold on the small ticket order to ensure that the merchant can see them.

Zhao Yaomin said that currently the price of degradable plastic products, such as polylactic acid, is about twice as high. In response, Zhao Yaomin suggested that the government should increase support and subsidies for environmentally friendly materials companies, and first reduce the price of degradable plastic products.

In addition, Zhao Yaomin suggested that takeaway merchants charge for disposable tableware, so merchants can keep costs and increase consumer environmental awareness.

By Best Chopsticks

Learn more about disposable chopsticks

Disposable chopsticks refer to chopsticks that are discarded once used, also known as "convenient chopsticks". Disposable chopsticks are the product of the fast pace of social life. There are disposable wooden chopsticks and disposable bamboo chopsticks. A large amount of woodland was destroyed by disposable wooden chopsticks, and poor quality wooden chopsticks were not clean.

Disposable bamboo chopsticks are made of renewable bamboo, which is very economical and is widely used. China also uses the preferential policy of export tax rebates to encourage the use of disposable bamboo chopsticks instead of disposable wooden chopsticks to reduce the use of wood. Forest preservation.

Introduction:

Disposable chopsticks refer to chopsticks that are discarded once used, also known as "hygienic chopsticks" and "convenient chopsticks." Disposable chopsticks are a product of the fast-paced, resource-saving life of the society, and also the product of a sharp decline in forest resources.

There are disposable wooden chopsticks and disposable bamboo chopsticks. Disposable chopsticks are favored by the catering industry due to their hygiene and convenience, but the problem of a large amount of woodland destruction caused by disposable wooden chopsticks has become increasingly prominent. The consumption of various types of wooden chopsticks in the Chinese market is huge, of which 45 billion pairs of disposable wooden chopsticks are consumed each year (about 1.66 million cubic meters of wood). Every 5,000 pairs of wooden disposable chopsticks consume one poplar tree that has grown for 30 years. The production of disposable wooden chopsticks nationwide consumes more than 100 acres of forest every day, which totals 36,000 acres a year. And poor-quality wooden chopsticks are not clean, they just give people a hygienic illusion.

As disposable bamboo chopsticks are made from renewable bamboo, which is economical and environmentally friendly, they are increasingly widely used. China encourages the use of disposable bamboo chopsticks instead of disposable wooden chopsticks for export, reducing the use of wood and protecting the forest.

Origin:

Disposable chopsticks can be found in various restaurants and cafeterias in Japan. Japan's annual consumption of disposable chopsticks is about 25.7 billion pairs, with a per capita consumption of about 200 pairs. At the same time, the output of disposable chopsticks in Japan accounts for only about 3%, and the remaining 97% is imported, of which disposable chopsticks imported from China account for 99% of total imports. That said, about 96% of disposable chopsticks in Japan come from China.

As early as the Edo period, the Japanese invented disposable chopsticks suitable for Japanese eating habits. By 1990, the output of domestically produced disposable chopsticks had reached 24 billion pairs. At the same time, because disposable chopsticks consume a large amount of wood, there has been a discussion in Japan about whether disposable chopsticks will damage forest resources. Some manufacturers have turned their attention overseas.

Initially, Japan imported disposable chopsticks from countries such as China, South Africa, Indonesia, and Canada. South Korea was also a major importer of disposable chopsticks in Japan, but slowly, due to a variety of reasons, including increased domestic demand for disposable chopsticks, depletion of timber resources, and fierce price competition in the international market, South Korea not only stopped Japanese exports have also become importers of disposable chopsticks.

It was a Japanese businessman who introduced disposable chopsticks to China, and China exported a large number of disposable chopsticks to Japan because of a Japanese businessman. In the early 1990s, when some Japanese businessmen began to develop processing bases for disposable chopsticks overseas, a Japanese businessman first established a small factory producing disposable chopsticks in Northeast China. In the beginning, this small factory did not directly use Chinese wood to produce disposable chopsticks exported to Japan but used white birch wood imported from Russia's Siberian region for processing and production.

Later, when it became profitable, not only Japanese businessmen entered China in large numbers, but also invested and set up factories in China through joint ventures. Even some local Chinese companies began to convert disposable chopsticks. In this way, while Chinese disposable chopsticks were exported to Japan, they began to spread throughout the country. In the 1980s, the use of renewable bamboo as raw materials began to produce more environmentally friendly disposable bamboo chopsticks. With the enhancement of people's environmental awareness and health awareness, disposable bamboo chopsticks have developed rapidly. The share of disposable bamboo chopsticks has reached 50%, and there is more momentum than wooden chopsticks.

Quality analysis:

Some inferiorly processed disposable chopsticks are left with unqualified hydrogen peroxide for "whitening".
The raw materials used by regular manufacturers to produce disposable chopsticks are relatively good-quality wood or fresh Moso bamboo, which are processed by regular processes, and food-grade sulfur fumigation and bleaching. 600mg per kg of chopsticks. However, in order to reduce costs, some small workshops use inferior wood, and the "skin tone" appears darker or even yellow.

To identify the quality of disposable chopsticks, first check whether the manufacturer's name, trademark and contact information are printed on the package. Second, you can smell the smell of chopsticks. If there is a sour smell, it is best not to use it. Of course, the best way is to wash the surface of the chopsticks with cold water to reduce the residual chemicals.

Major drawbacks:

Rare resource

Although China's disposable chopsticks exports to Japan have brought income to some places and created certain employment opportunities, we should also see the problems this industry brings to China. If one adult tree can produce 10,000 pairs of chopsticks, China's exports of more than 20 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks will require at least 2.5 million trees and hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of forest need to be cut down. Different from the "thinning" method adopted in Japan, most of China's forest harvesting uses the "one-light" type of felling. It should be said that this is a devastating harvest of existing forest resources. Due to the lack of subsequent tree planting work, the originally renewable forest resources have become one-time resources. This is a great waste of China's forestry resources.

China's export of disposable chopsticks to Japan is the most typical economic development model of developing countries, that is, the development of resource-exporting production and development in order to develop the economy, and over-exploitation of resources eventually leads to environmental damage. Many countries that exported disposable chopsticks to Japan at that time had this experience. Many countries have to withdraw from this market because of the depletion of forest resources. When a large number of Chinese disposable chopsticks entered Japan, some domestic manufacturers also proposed to the government such as restricting imports from China. Although the Japanese government-imposed restrictions on beef and pork imports in 1995 and 1996, the Japanese government has reduced import tariffs from 5.2% to 4.7% since the beginning of 1999. This also reflects the Japanese government's attitude towards the import problem, which is destructive to other countries' resources.

In order to meet the demand for Japanese exports, Chinese chopstick-making companies have to consume a large amount of wood, and the forests in northern China are being destroyed. This means that Japan is plundering the resources of other countries. Regarding the issue of China's export of disposable chopsticks to Japan, although the Japanese government's Forestry Department has repeatedly insisted that the use of construction waste and "thin-cut" wood as raw materials to produce disposable chopsticks is not destroying forest resources, but promoting the effective use Forest resources, but this may be feasible in Japan, and putting it in China may be another matter. Because if it is produced by "thin cutting" and using scraps, it will undoubtedly increase production costs, and Chinese companies may withdraw from the team that exports disposable chopsticks to Japan.

False inferiority

Most disposable chopsticks are packaged with the words high-temperature disinfection, cleanliness, and sanitation, but in fact, because disposable chopsticks are cheap and have a large market share, many small businesses use sulfur fumigation, hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid to compete for this market Sodium immersion, bleaching, and talc polishing are to reduce costs. In fact, the purpose of sanitation and disinfection has not been achieved at all. The polyethylene packaging of disposable chopsticks is more harmful to people. Things down the production line will produce more harmful ingredients at high temperatures, which will induce the body to produce many chronic diseases.

Hidden hazard
1. Damage to respiratory function: sulfur fumigation must be performed during the production of disposable chopsticks, so sulfur will be released during the use and heat will erode the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract;
2. Damage to digestive function: Disposable chopsticks are bleached with hydrogen peroxide during the production process. Hydrogen peroxide is strongly corrosive, causing corrosion to the mouth, esophagus and even the stomach and intestines;
3. Germ infection: The shelf life of sterilized disposable chopsticks is up to 4 months. Once the shelf life has passed, it is likely to bring yellow grape bacteria, Escherichia coli, and hepatitis disease;
4. Disposable chopsticks may also have a "greenhouse effect". Because of the vicious cycle, there are fewer trees, carbon dioxide will increase, the atmosphere will thicken, and the heat will be difficult to spread.
5. Disposable chopsticks cause cancer: Experts point out that expired disposable chopsticks contain the carcinogen aflatoxin, which has a very high risk of carcinogenesis and can induce the occurrence of liver cancer. Don't underestimate this small disposable chopstick, it has a shelf life. After the shelf life, it is a dangerous item. Disposable chopsticks are rejected.

British media reports
The British Daily Telegraph said that after more than one billion Chinese people use 80 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks each year, China's forests can no longer provide enough wood to support the chopsticks industry. Today, China cuts 20 million trees annually to meet the demand for disposable chopsticks. China has become the world's largest timber importer. To this end, the newspaper said: China must replace chopsticks with a knife and fork!

Harmful to health

"White" is made from industrial ingredients
Huaihua City, Hunan Province is one of the main producing places of disposable chopsticks. There are more than 40 large and small disposable chopsticks factories with an annual output of more than 1 billion pairs. In a chopsticks factory in Xiaojiaxiang, Huitong County, the reporter saw the entire production process of disposable chopsticks.

Chemical raw materials discovered during manufacturing

Disposable chopsticks are still in use

The workers cut the bamboo into sections, cut them into blanks with a machine, and dried them in a baking room. The dried blank of chopsticks is covered with a layer of cloth tightly, and white smoke emerges from time to time, giving off a pungent smell. The factory workers told us that they were using sulfur to smoke the chopsticks in order to make them whiter and prevent it from the mold. The reporter found that the sulfur they used was industrial sulfur, which is a chemical raw material. During the fumigation process, sulfur dioxide residues will be produced, and the process of fumbling chopsticks will take two days.

After sulfur is smoked, and then the rough is cut, the chopsticks are formed. In order to make the chopsticks feel smoother, we have to polish them. The reporter saw that not only the chopsticks but also the white things in the polishing machine. The worker told us that it was paraffin. Paraffin, which contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, is a low-end product in the petroleum smelting process. In this way, after polishing with paraffin, the chopsticks were put into bags filled with fertilizers and waiting for shipment.

Moldy chopsticks are cooked before selling

During the investigation, the reporter also discovered a strange phenomenon. Some black chopsticks that had been moldy and not deteriorated were not thrown away but were further processed. In Xichong Village, Huaihua, Hunan, the reporter saw a scene where black chopsticks were cooked white. The owner told us that the bleaching agent they used was hydrogen peroxide, and 40 pounds were poured in a pot.

The reporter learned that the use of industrial hydrogen peroxide to cook moldy and deteriorated chopsticks before selling them for sale has become an open secret in the industry. After the processing of these chemical raw materials, a variety of chemical residues will be produced on disposable chopsticks. Long-term intake of these chemical residues will be harmful to human health. However, the reporter visited more than 30 large and small chopsticks in Huaihua, Hunan and Yifeng, Jiangxi. Factory, everywhere, no one disinfects chopsticks.

Residue in disposable chopsticks exceeded standards

As early as 2005, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and Standardization of the People's Republic of China has jointly issued national standards for disposable chopsticks. In the use of food additives, only sulfur dioxide is allowed to have certain residues, and the specific residues have strict restrictions, but This standard has long been left behind by these manufacturers. Even the manufacturers themselves acknowledge that "the majority of disposable chopsticks now have residues that exceed the standard" and such "hygienic chopsticks are actually very unsanitary".

In this way, chopsticks went from the manufacturer to the wholesaler. Some were packaged and sold throughout the country, and finally entered small and medium-sized restaurants, and some were wholesaled to some processing plants to make disposable tableware. In Huaihua, Hunan, the reporter met the wholesaler Ma Liansen who supplies tableware processing plants. According to him, tableware brands such as Geely, Autumn, and Tapp are using his chopsticks, which are disinfected by the tableware factory after entering the tableware factory.

In this way, disposable chopsticks without any sterilization treatment finally appeared to us in the form of sterilized tableware.

Disposable chopsticks also have a shelf life

The "Detailed Implementation Rules for Food Packaging Containers and Tools" clearly stipulates that sterilized disposable tableware can only be kept for a maximum of 4 months. Why should we set the shelf life of disposable chopsticks? That's because the wood or bamboo made from disposable chopsticks contains a certain amount of water, and it is easy to mold over time. Especially in the summer and autumn rainy season or in the relatively humid environment in the south, mildew is more likely to occur. If consumers use these expired moldy disposable chopsticks, they will eat "aflatoxin".

Extremely environmentally friendly "disposables"

More and more "disposable items" are bringing convenience to people's lives. However, from the perspective of environmental protection, behind this convenient and fast is the waste of a lot of resources and the accumulation of garbage, which brings endless troubles. According to the survey, there are currently thousands of domestic enterprises producing wooden chopsticks, which consumes wooden resources annually Nearly 5 million cubic meters. The annual harvest of forest trees in the country is about 47.58 million cubic meters, and these chopsticks account for 10.5%. In the process of producing chopsticks, from round wood to wooden blocks to finished products, the effective utilization rate of wood is 60%.

The raw materials of regular disposable chopsticks are all good-quality wood and do not need special processing. However, in order to reduce costs, many small workshops use low-quality wood, which looks "skin tone" darker. Of course, this less beautiful color cannot be favored by consumers. Therefore, after processing, the disposable chopsticks produced by the small workshop producers will immediately "make a makeover" and board the people's table.

Production method investigation

The solid-state is made by sulfur fumigation and bleaching. The sulfur dioxide of bleached chopsticks will seriously exceed the standard. Therefore, when people eat with this kind of chopsticks, sulfur dioxide is easily coagulated to the respiratory tract and coughs with the flow of air. Respiratory diseases such as asthma follow. In addition, sulfur contains heavy metals, for example, metals such as mercury/lead can accumulate in the human body. Accumulation over a long period of time can cause mercury poisoning.

Liquid-processed chopsticks are bleached with chlorine or hydrogen peroxide, especially chlorine, and may contain dioxins that once made people talk.

As for bamboo chopsticks, in order to remove the burrs of the chopsticks and make them look smooth and white, the maker puts them into talcum powder and processes the chopsticks by rubbing. Although disposable chopsticks produced by informal manufacturers are very harmful, so far, China has not issued specific sanitary inspection standards for disposable chopsticks.

Huang Bo experiment

Disposable chopsticks stained with a glass of water
On March 17, 2013, actor Huang Bo sent a message with pictures on Weibo that Tucao encountered a meal in a restaurant using disposable chopsticks. The picture shows that the disposable chopsticks were soaked in a water glass, and the colorless and transparent water turned It turns yellow, and there is a layer of oil-like substance on the water surface.

The Weibo immediately sparked heated discussion. It has been forwarded more than 100,000 times in less than a day. "I don't know, I was shocked at a glance." "I will have to bring my own chopsticks when I go out to eat." Netizens have commented and asked to expose the restaurant. Some even called on the country to prohibit the use of disposable chopsticks.

On the afternoon of the 18th, Huang Bo responded again on Weibo, arguing that restaurants using this kind of disposable chopsticks are very common, "We can only refuse to use or use less disposable chopsticks, a little more environmental protection, a longer life.

Experts say they may be over smoked by sulfur
Food packaging experts said that normal chopsticks will produce a slightly light yellow color because they contain lignin, but the chopsticks soaked in Huang Bo's photos are likely to be fumigated by sulfur, so be sure to be careful of disposable chopsticks, Sulfur yellow smoked. " Do not use disposable chopsticks that are black, yellow, spotty, or too thin.

Administrative instructions:

Urgent notice from the State Food and Drug Administration

Urgent notice on strictly preventing unqualified disposable chopsticks from flowing into the catering service
Food and Drug Administration for Food [2010] No. 26

Provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government (Bureaus), Food and Drug Administration:

Some media reported that some chopsticks manufacturing enterprises were processing disposable chopsticks in violation of regulations. In order to prevent disposable chopsticks that do not meet safety standards from entering the catering service and effectively protect consumers' food safety, please promptly organize the supervision and inspection of the procurement and use of disposable chopsticks by catering service units and carry out supervisory random inspections. If it is found that the disposable chopsticks purchased by the catering service unit have an impact on food safety, the catering service unit shall be supervised to immediately stop using and destroy it. Anyone found to have violated the relevant provisions of the Food Safety Law and its implementing regulations shall be dealt with seriously in accordance with the law. At the same time, timely report the situation of the source of the problem chopsticks to the production and distribution supervision departments.

Please report the status of supervision and inspection to the Food Safety Supervision Department of the State Food and Drug Administration before the end of April.

Office of the State Food and Drug Administration
March 18, 2010

Ministry of Commerce and other requirements reduce the use of disposable chopsticks

On June 17, 2010, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the State Forestry Administration, and the State Food and Drug Administration jointly issued "Notice on Reducing the Use of Disposable Chopsticks" (Shangjingyingfa [2010] No. 220) requires the catering and restaurant industry to reduce the use of disposable chopsticks. This measure is to implement the spirit of the "Notice of the General Office of the State Council on In-depth Implementation of National Energy Conservation Actions" (Guobanfa [2008] No. 16), continue to promote the "reduction in the use of disposable chopsticks" and further achieve practical results The catering industry has developed in a good atmosphere of saving resources and protecting the environment.

The "Notice" requires a full understanding of the significance of reducing the use of disposable chopsticks. It is pointed out that the widespread use of disposable chopsticks has prominent health and environmental issues, and society has strongly responded to this. Strengthening the supervision of the production, distribution, and recycling of disposable chopsticks, reducing the use of disposable chopsticks, and promoting the non-use of disposable chopsticks are important measures to implement the scientific development concept and build a resource-saving and environment-friendly society. On the basis of supporting the implementation of the contents of the initiative, all regions and departments should take effective measures to reduce the use of disposable chopsticks in response to the outstanding problems in the production, circulation, and consumption of "disposable chopsticks".

The "Notice" requires that all departments should establish working mechanisms, work together and cooperate closely in accordance with their respective functions, and jointly work on "reducing the use of disposable chopsticks". Commercial departments at all levels should effectively guide the catering operations and consumption links. Development and reform, the forestry department must rationally adjust and continuously optimize the industrial structure of forest products, restrict new enterprises producing disposable wooden chopsticks, standardize the production of disposable wooden chopsticks by existing enterprises, and improve the standard of disposable wooden chopsticks. The quality inspection department should strengthen the supervision of disposable chopsticks production enterprises, urge the production enterprises to improve production technical conditions and ensure that production is organized in accordance with standards. The tax department should further study and adjust tax and fee policies to provide policy support for reducing the use of disposable chopsticks. Food and drug supervision and departments still responsible for food safety supervision should strengthen the supervision of disposable chopsticks. The commerce, development and reform departments shall establish a one-time chopstick recycling mechanism, set up recycling points in urban consumer concentrated areas, and realize resource reuse. Environmental protection departments should strengthen cooperation and earnestly promote the work related to reducing the use of disposable chopsticks.

The "Notice" proposes that in order to expand the social impact and continue this work, it is necessary to make full use of the role of associations in strengthening industry self-discipline and regulating corporate behavior, and further carry out various forms of social initiatives and Relevant activities, do a good job in the promotion and implementation of relevant national laws, regulations, and standards, guide processing manufacturers and catering companies to continuously enhance awareness of resource conservation and environmental protection, and reduce the use of disposable chopsticks as a conscious action in daily management. Catering companies with fixed business locations should actively provide clean, hygienic, safe and reliable reusable chopsticks. It is necessary to provide non-fixed operating places for disposable chopsticks and take-out and food delivery enterprises. It is necessary to use disposable bamboo chopsticks as much as possible, strictly control the hygiene quality of chopsticks, and effectively recycle them. It is necessary to give full play to the guiding role of the news media and public opinion, vigorously publicize the successful practices and typical experiences of advanced enterprises in "reducing the use of disposable chopsticks", and form a good atmosphere of reducing the use of disposable chopsticks. All kinds of related enterprises should consciously accept the supervision of the people and all walks of life, gradually regulate the production and circulation of disposable chopsticks, and replace disposable chopsticks with safe and hygienic reusable chopsticks.

The "Notice" further requires that all regions and departments should strengthen guidance and supervision, relevant industry associations should guide enterprises to strictly self-discipline, vigorously advocate the scientific consumption concept of green consumption, moderate consumption, and healthy eating. By establishing and improving relevant rules and regulations, " "Reducing the use of disposable chopsticks" has been implemented in all aspects. Encourage small and medium-sized catering companies that use more disposable chopsticks to provide cleaning, disinfection, and storage facilities for reusable chopsticks as soon as possible to ensure that they meet safety and health standards and create good conditions for consumers to reduce or not use disposable chopsticks. It is necessary to adopt popular propaganda forms and encouragement and guidance measures to strengthen the guidance of consumers so that reducing and not using disposable chopsticks becomes a conscious action of catering consumption. "Reduce the use of disposable chopsticks" as an important content of building a resource-saving and environment-friendly society in various places, enhance the popularity and durability of publicity, and win widespread understanding and support from consumers.

The "Notice" requires all regions and departments to formulate relevant policies and measures to encourage enterprises to improve supporting facilities and create favorable conditions for reducing the use of disposable chopsticks. At the same time, market supervision will be further strengthened, and inspections on reducing the use of disposable chopsticks and advocating non-use of disposable chopsticks will be organized from time to time. Enterprises that provide reusable chopsticks that do not meet the hygiene requirements shall be ordered to make corrections; disposable chopsticks that do not meet the quality and hygiene requirements shall be ordered to delist and follow the supervision to strictly prevent re-flow into the market.

Shaanxi Province bans disposable chopsticks

The Regulations on Promoting Circular Economy in Shaanxi Province will be promulgated and implemented on December 1, 2011. Beginning on December 1, 2011, Shaanxi Province will ban catering companies from providing disposable chopsticks to consumers. Any operator that violates the regulations will be ordered to make corrections by the food and drug supervision and management department. Fines ranging from RMB 2,000 to RMB 2000; self-employed catering operators shall be fined RMB 50 to RMB 200.

Related disputes:

Disposable chopsticks may be more environmentally friendly

Seven Tongji students understood a reason that might be overlooked when they did practical projects: to consider whether an action is environmentally friendly, they must have a diverse and comprehensive perspective; otherwise, environmental protection actions that save one resource may lead to another resource Excessive consumption and harm to the environment
Ordinary, repeated cleaning and use of traditional chopsticks are more environmentally friendly than disposable chopsticks-after many experts repeatedly reminded and spread word of mouth, this is becoming a consensus; some people have called for resistance to the use of disposable chopsticks, and some people bring their own traditional chopsticks. Dinner at the restaurant. However, the 7 sophomores of Tongji University have different opinions after some empirical research.

A group of these students has tried the “Study on Water Footprint and Sustainability of Chopsticks Industry”, and has conducted a year's investigation, including using this winter vacation to visit hotel kitchens in 7 cities including Shanghai, Jiujiang, and Taiyuan to investigate the washing water of traditional chopsticks Happening. After analyzing a large amount of raw data, these students formed their own "new theory": from the perspective of chopsticks' "full life cycle water footprint", disposable chopsticks may be more environmentally friendly.

Scrambled online without credible evidence

The so-called “full life cycle water footprint” of chopsticks is the sum of the water consumption statistics of the entire process of chopsticks from raw material growth, processing, transportation, and reuse to waste disposal, and then compare disposable chopsticks from the perspective of water consumption and water conservation and the impact of traditional chopsticks on the environment.

Bi Chenyang, who has a strong interest in environmental protection since childhood, is the head of this student research project. He saw a post on the End of the World forum entitled "The Anti-Disposable Chopsticks" slapstick is over, and the netizens caused it to be hotly debated-mainstream views point out that a big tree growing for 20 years can only do 6000-8000 pairs of disposable chopsticks, waste wood and increase deforestation; and the disposable chopsticks need to be bleached, if not properly processed and managed, it will cause damage to the user's physical health; in addition, its recycling and recycling are now basic Still blank. However, the opinions of the other school are tit-for-tat: the main raw materials of disposable chopsticks are mostly artificially planted economic forests, and the other party's arguments are wrong; as for the traditional chopsticks that the other party advocates, cleaning requires a lot of water and may cause more damage to the environment.

Bi Chenyang found: "Both sides hold their own words, but they have not come up with clear and reliable arguments." He and his partners decided to use scientific empirical methods to collect sufficient data to solve this meaningful controversial topic.

To accurately quantify the actual consumption of water and forest resources by chopsticks and compare which is more conducive to environmental protection, sufficient survey data must be available first.

In order to investigate the situation of chopsticks washing water, seven students used the vacation and spare time to visit the hotel kitchen in their hometown and 40 canteens in 17 universities in Shanghai. During the investigation, they encountered many difficulties, such as repeatedly explaining their purpose to the hotel manager, but in fact, only one out of ten hotels often allowed students to enter the kitchen. Group member Wang Lei said that during the investigation of Anji, the place where bamboo chopsticks were produced, they found that the local production of bamboo chopsticks was mainly in private workshops. The boss could not tell the water data during processing, and also refused to enter the production area for investigation.

However, they also received the approval and support of many people. The Anji County Bamboo Industry Association provided a reference method for calculating the water consumption of bamboo growth. Teacher Xu Xiaotian from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tongji University often provided guidance and provided them with 20,000. Research funding.

Diversified perspectives on environmental issues

Traditional chopsticks consume a lot of water during repeated cleaning and use; disposable chopsticks consume a lot of wood and bamboo. Water-saving and forest conservation are both based on the original intention of environmental protection, and they also have practical effects on environmental protection. But which "greener" is the specific choice of chopsticks? How to measure?

The project research of 7 students of Tongji University is still in its infancy, and the conclusion is preliminary. They felt that the biggest gain was that they had realized a previously neglected truth in the survey: to consider whether an action is environmentally friendly and whether an environmental protection plan is scientific and reasonable, it must have a diverse and comprehensive perspective. Otherwise, environmental protection actions to save one kind of resource may cause the excessive consumption of another kind of resource and damage the environment; sometimes the two are more than worth the difference. They plan to build a website in the future to track the water footprint and carbon footprint of various daily activities for environmental protection research.

Knowing this research project of Tongji students, Lu Jianjian, an ecologist and professor of East China Normal University, gave a positive evaluation. He believes that the research idea of ​​this topic is tenable: "First of all, this survey introduced the concept of" water footprint ", and in particular it has an enlightening effect on how to protect the environment in water-scarce areas; secondly, they recommend that The fast-growing bamboo in Fengshui, Jiangnan is made into disposable chopsticks, which can promote the growth of bamboo forests and increase the role of bamboo in sequestering carbon (that is, absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere) in growing areas. "

The farce of "anti-disposable chopsticks" is over.

"A big tree that has been growing for 20 years can only make 6000-8000 pairs of chopsticks." The sensational claims about disposable chopsticks now seem to have become a "consensus", and there is a tendency of "everyone shouting." At a time when "two sessions" are being held in various places, members of the CPPCC in Beijing, Zhejiang, Henan, and other places have once again proposed the "banning of disposable chopsticks". If nothing else, more representatives and members will submit similar suggestions to the "two sessions" of various regions and even the whole country. But this is a downright lie.

Along with the sound of chainsaws, towering trees fell to the ground, and a pair of disposable chopsticks were delivered to the dining table ... The author repeatedly saw this kind of "public interest advertisement" in the media from CCTV to various places. I was convinced that the use of disposable chopsticks is equivalent to destroying the forest. It was not until I had the opportunity to contact the industry insiders that I was fooled for many years.

In fact, no manufacturer will be extravagant enough to use a piece of valuable forest logs to make "6000-8000 pairs" of cheap disposable chopsticks. Those solid woods that are rich in oil are not suitable for making disposable chopsticks. Someone wants to ask, then the wood used to make these disposable chopsticks will not be artificially "transformed", right? Congratulations, you got it! The main raw material of disposable chopsticks is the artificially planted fast-growing poplar, birch and other economical woods with low texture and less oil, and other waste woods, and some are made of bamboo. It can be seen that the use of disposable chopsticks will not only "destroy the forest", but will also increase the scale of economic forest trees such as fast-growing poplars.

Fast-growing Yang and other economic forests are fast-growing and high-efficiency. They were once an important "magic weapon" for farmers to develop. Cui He, the former secretary of Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, once edited the "Fast-Growing Yang Allegro", which was repeatedly broadcast on television, leading farmers out of poverty Get rich. Today, due to the rumors of "anti-disposable chopsticks" and the shrinking production capacity of the paper industry, the market price of fast-growing poplars has been "cut down." Tens of thousands of tree farmers have suffered heavy losses, and most of them will be forced. No longer nursery.

"Environmentalists" also use a nationalistic statement to render their claims, that is, the so-called forest cover rate is much higher than China's Japan, South Korea, and other countries do not produce disposable chopsticks, but import from China (European and American households rarely use chopsticks, and naturally cannot talk about the problem of producing disposable chopsticks), thus adding a layer of demonization to the disposable chopsticks industry. In fact, the real reason is very simple. It is precise because Japan's agricultural land is limited and the price of agricultural products is high. Of course, there is no condition to plant a large amount of fast-growing trees such as fast-growing poplars, so it is necessary to import disposable chopsticks from China. China's export of this product is no different from other agricultural and sideline products such as garlic and sausages, and it does not involve the question of "damaging China and Japan."

As for the production of disposable chopsticks, it is complete nonsense to say that certain water and energy are consumed in the process. Do n’t you consume water and energy without washing and disinfecting chopsticks or using those “sanitary tableware”? In the end, is it a large amount of fumigation or is it more water-saving and energy-saving? Although improperly stored or expired disposable chopsticks may be infected with germs, are non-disposable chopsticks less likely to be infected with germs or even the hepatitis virus?

In fact, disposable chopsticks not only greatly facilitate the majority of diners, reduce the risk of infection with various germs and hepatitis viruses, reduce the water, electricity, detergents, disinfectants, etc. consumed by repeated cleaning and disinfection of chopsticks, but also pull upstream The scale of fast-growing poplar and other economic forests is planted, and the waste products used downstream are excellent raw materials for papermaking. As long as it is well managed, it can develop into a real green environmental protection industry.

Of course, disposable chopsticks also have their shortcomings: First, poor management of bleaching and disinfection may cause some pollution to the environment and may cause harm to users' health; second, there is a lack of regulation on recycling, so that a large number of waste products are not Fully utilized and increased waste. All these issues should call on the government to strengthen management, but a simple “ban” will not only destroy the entire industry, affect millions of tree farmers and workers, cause inconvenience to diners, but also destroy the production of economic forest trees such as fast-growing poplars. If the market demand for other non-disposable wooden chopsticks, iron chopsticks, etc. rises, it will actually cause real destruction and waste of forest resources and other resources.

The most positive thing about the "chopstick ban" issue is that the propaganda methods of organizations such as "Green Peace" are very suspicious-if the general public, including myself, do not understand the true origin of disposable chopsticks, is it normal that these " "Professionals" haven't gone deep into companies and fields to investigate? There is every reason to question that these so-called "environmental protection organizations" are actually very clear that disposable chopsticks are not harmful to native forests, but they still use slogans such as "Save Forest Chopsticks" to fool the public and fool the world! They mobilized students and used the media to label catering establishments using disposable chopsticks and carry out scandalous propaganda, thereby intimidating the society to "ban chopsticks" to realize their "self-evident" demands. This kind of missionary propaganda is actually anti-intellectual and anti-public good intoxication.

Finally, let's talk about the industries that have caused great damage to forest resources-luxury goods such as high-end solid wood flooring, solid wood furniture, and those ancient tree logs transplanted in high-end communities. Not to mention how much of the “imported Brazil” wood that floor and furniture manufacturers claim is actually coming from China ’s forests. These high-end commodities that actually cut logs as materials are competing to promote the “environmental protection” slogan, and the public and “green” Organizations such as "Peace" are indifferent to it, but wantonly demonize disposable chopsticks that do not use logs.

Analyze this phenomenon, on the one hand, because the former interest group is too strong, especially with a strong relationship with the media, while the latter hurts only those "silent" tree farmers who cannot defend themselves and have no spokespersons and those who cannot afford to advertise. Enterprises, small businessmen; on the other hand, because opposition to solid wood flooring and solid wood furniture will really touch the enjoyment of high-end consumption of a considerable number of "social elites", although they know the harm, they dare not offend the "anger" of "nobles", and Those who just raise their hands can show the so-called "environmental protection spirit", so they must use rumors to "preach" even though they know their errors. Regarding the propaganda slogan of this "environmental protection organization", it is better for everyone to keep a bit of doubt, so as not to cause others to yell at each other and to deceive the country and the people.

Disposable chopsticks are not necessarily clean and hygienic. After repeated use, if not disinfected thoroughly, some infectious diseases may be brought to others.

By Best Chopsticks

Reference:
https://www.bestchopsticks.com/learn-more-about-disposable-chopsticks/
https://www.bestchopsticks.com/disposable-chopsticks/

China's "chopstick culture" is endlessly disputed between Japan and South Korea

Chopsticks are an indispensable tool for Chinese people on the dining table. As the oldest table tool in China, it actually represents a dietary custom and habit of our Chinese people. This is unique even in the world. Use chopsticks A habit fully shows the wisdom of the Chinese people. When some foreigners came to China, they were not very adaptable to traditional tableware like China, so they made a lot of jokes.

However, throughout Asia, there are still many countries where chopsticks are used, such as Japan and South Korea, and some countries in Southeast Asia. They all have the custom of using chopsticks. Of course, when it comes to these, we will think of the constant Disputes caused by culture, especially in South Korea, once caused unhappiness in both countries, but it must be said that the Chinese are the most authentic tool for chopsticks, which is slightly worse in Japan and South Korea.

Chinese chopsticks originated from the Shang Dynasty, and they are also called 箸. In ancient China, there were many precious chopsticks, such as chopsticks made of ivory, silver, gold, etc., which highlight the ancient wisdom of Chinese people. The commonly used tools have become a kind of art. In the long development process, Chinese chopsticks are unique and convenient in both use and shape.

Compared to Japan and South Korea, Chinese chopsticks are relatively long. This is also the main reason why some foreign tourists come to China are not comfortable. Japanese and South Korean chopsticks are shorter, but Chinese chopsticks have some unique designs on the grip. It feels more comfortable, but compared to some people, Chinese bamboo chopsticks are relatively heavy.

However, Korean chopsticks are different. They are short and they are made of metal. They are very thin, making the grip feel not very good, and the metal texture is very heavy. , So they intentionally use metal chopsticks, and they think that using bamboo and wooden chopsticks is relatively unhygienic, because Korean kimchi and a series of dishes are very heavy, so after use, often chopsticks are full of spices.

Japanese chopsticks have more different places. They are more advocating wood. This has many advantages and is easy to hold. However, Japanese chopsticks are very sharp and very short. This also makes many Chinese people used to I feel a bit uncomfortable after having long chopsticks. In fact, the reason for this in Japan is because of the problem of the tableware they use. Japanese wooden chopsticks are not polished very smoothly, so they will use the habit of holding small bowls with chopsticks.

From this point of view, although chopsticks originated in China, after arriving in various Asian countries, they have made a lot of changes to their national conditions, but compared to that, Chinese chopsticks are more restrictive and too thick Too thin and too fine are not suitable for the Chinese people's hand, causing unnecessary trouble. What do you think about this?

By Best Chopsticks

One of the representatives of Chinese food culture: mahogany chopsticks

Speaking of mahogany, the first impression that may be given to people in various furniture. Because of its high value and stable wood properties, mahogany is made into furniture, which has received a warm response from the market. Even if there are some small pieces of cultural relics, it is still full of classical charm. And mahogany gives the impression that the exclusive utensils of high-end literati seem to be ungrounded. In fact, it is mainly due to the scarcity of materials, especially materials such as purple-red and yellow have been used by emperors and nobles since ancient times.

In fact, things depend on people's use. The mahogany material can also be grounded. There is an old saying: people take food as the sky. Since ancient times, people have always given food as the highest priority. They will pursue their spirits only if they eat and drink. The mahogany is wood, which is an excellent material for chopsticks. Chopsticks are the most commonly used diet tools in the world. They are the symbolic representation of Chinese classical diet culture. Chinese people have used chopsticks for at least 3000 years. Today, take a look at the mahogany that can be used as chopsticks.

Purple sandalwood can be said to be the densest material in mahogany, which also results in a case of the same volume, which is heavier than other mahogany materials. Large furniture may be heavier, but in the case of chopsticks The wood is always wood, which is not comparable to the weight of pure metal chopsticks, coupled with the stability of purple sandalwood, which is not easy to be moth-eaten, so making chopsticks is an excellent existence, and the weight is particularly suitable. The first half is made of solid sterling silver. Silver tableware has always been commonly used by wealthy people, but with the change of time, it has also entered the ordinary people and millions of households, and it is no longer synonymous with the ancient emperor and aristocracy tableware.

In addition to purple sandalwood, for example, the red sandalwood has a medicinal value record in Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica. Material, so these woods can be used directly as raw materials for chopsticks.

Therefore, mahogany is not necessarily those crafts, or large furniture, mahogany chopsticks are also very grounded, and it will not be too expensive for people to use. Even Huanghuali chopsticks, the price will not be overstated. So in the future, don't think that mahogany is exclusively for the rich. As long as you pay attention to observation, there will be surprises everywhere.

By Best Chopsticks

Have YOU been using your chopsticks wrong?

An Australian woman has accidentally become a viral online sensation after sharing an image of a 'life hack' which has shown people worldwide they've been using chopsticks wrong all their lives.

The nifty trick is fairly simple: just snap the chunky wooden tab off the end of a pair of disposable chopsticks and use it as a stand to avoid putting utensils straight onto the table.

However, it seems the trick was enough to break the Internet when people reacted to the ground-breaking chopsticks news with absolute shock and amazement.

An Australian woman saw the photo on Facebook and, deciding it was funny, though she'd reshare it on Twitter. It has now been retweeted 3,200 times and favorited more than three thousand times.

Bort of Darkness' tweet went viral almost immediately and, two days later, she can still barely use her phone as she is bombarded with messages and retweets from amazed social media users.

The bemused young woman has also now been credited as the brainchild behind the life hack in news articles around the world, from Ireland to Germany.

People have responded to Bort's tweet with other fascinating, little known hacks.

'This is the same feeling I got when I discovered the noodle boxes fold out into bowls,' one person tweeted.

'This is like learning about the string on bandaids,' another replied, explaining a string on the bandaid packaging can be used to cleanly unwrap a bandaid without ripping the packet.

She jokes the response has been so huge considering 'I tweeted a dumb picture, I didn't invent chopsticks.'

Although she's found the staggering response quite absurd, Bort says it's given her an intriguing insight into how quickly online content can go viral.

By Best Chopsticks

Large-scale forest deforestation caused by disposable chopsticks

Beijing students are building a "disposable chopstick forest" to raise public awareness of deforestation in this way.

Ozawa Keiko's work "Waribashi" (meaning sanitary chopsticks in Japanese) was created using disposable chopsticks.

A man in a restaurant in Beijing is eating noodles with disposable chopsticks.

Chopsticks are a symbol of Asian food culture, but the mass production of disposable chopsticks has also caused great damage to the forest, further exacerbating climate change. According to a 2008 report by the United Nations, the area of ​​forests that disappear in Asia each year amounts to 10,800 square miles (about 27,900 square kilometers), and many of these trees have been reduced to disposable chopsticks. There is no doubt that disposable chopsticks have become a major culprit in reducing forest area.

China produces 57 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks each year

Chopsticks are the most important tableware in most Asian countries. Compared with other Asian countries, Japan and China are more inclined to use disposable chopsticks. In China, small restaurants prefer disposable chopsticks, while larger restaurants use more plastic chopsticks. Disposable chopsticks are also found everywhere in Japan. In sushi restaurants in New York or London, you may use disposable wooden chopsticks. If it is a Vietnamese restaurant, it may be plastic chopsticks. Korean restaurants tend to use metal chopsticks.

According to figures provided by the State Forestry Administration of China, the number of disposable chopsticks produced in China each year is as high as 57 billion pairs, which is equivalent to cutting 3.8 million trees. About 45% of disposable chopsticks are made of poplar, birch or spruce, and the rest are made of bamboo. It can be said that disposable chopsticks have become a major culprit in reducing the forest area. Half of the chopsticks produced in China are used in the country, and the other half are exported to Japan, 21% to South Korea, and 2% to the United States.

The production of disposable chopsticks has led to "innocent" deforestation in large areas. According to a 2008 report by the United Nations, the area of ​​forests lost in Asia reaches 10,800 square miles per year (about 27,900 square kilometers). If climate change is to be curbed, this trend must be "stopped", as trees play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide.

Asia begins to promote the use of portable chopsticks

Activists point out that everyone must work together to gradually get rid of the use of disposable chopsticks. At present, many stores in Asia are selling soft or hardcover chopsticks. These chopsticks can be put in small bags, backpacks or briefcases and are easy to carry. In China, organizations such as the Greenpeace East Asia branch are taking action to increase public awareness of the issue of disposable chopsticks. In December 2010, 200 students from 20 universities in China collected 82,000 pairs of disposable chopsticks from restaurants in Beijing, and then used these chopsticks to build 4 trees, each 16 feet high ) To form a mini "disposable chopstick forest".

In addition, they took to the bustling Beijing pedestrian street and invited 40,000 pedestrians to sign a petition to resist disposable chopsticks.

Countries begin to pay attention to the issue of disposable chopsticks

Some American artists also pay attention to the issue of disposable chopsticks in their own way. San Francisco artist Keiko Ozawa collected 170,000 used disposable chopsticks to create abstract works. "Japanese restaurants especially like to use disposable chopsticks, and do not compost or recycle used disposable chopsticks," she said.

In 2007, China began levying taxes on disposable wooden chopsticks to protect the environment. With the introduction of this policy, Japan began to import chopsticks more from other countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Russia, rather than opt-out. It is worth mentioning that Japan has one of the highest forest cover countries in the world, reaching 69%. In addition, Japan is also a country that attaches great importance to garbage collection. Restaurants often prepare multiple garbage bins to carefully sort garbage.

It is puzzling why such a country is obsessed with disposable chopsticks. Cost is obviously not a factor. In Japan, reusable chopsticks sell for $ 1.17 each. Because they can be reused, they cost less than disposable chopsticks. Reusable chopsticks can be used about 130 times. Disposable chopsticks cost about 2 cents, and 130 pairs cost about $ 2.6, which is obviously higher than reusable chopsticks.

Some customers may be reluctant to choose reusable chopsticks because of concerns about unsanitary conditions. "Greenpeace" pointed out that, in addition to being harmful to the environment, disposable chopsticks also pose a potential threat to consumers' health. In China, although product standards are in place, supervision is sometimes inadequate, especially for small factories. According to Chinese media reports, some small factories producing disposable chopsticks actually use industrial sulfur, paraffin, hydrogen peroxide, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals during processing. Paraffin is a carcinogen and hydrogen peroxide can damage the digestive system. Discarding used chopsticks at will can contaminate water and reduce soil quality.

Japan has not yet resolved this issue through legislative means, but there have also been some pleasing changes. At present, some restaurants are starting to provide plastic chopsticks, but they are also preparing disposable chopsticks so that guests can make such requests. At convenience stores throughout Japan, clerks ask customers if they need disposable chopsticks, instead of putting chopsticks in checkout bags by default. In addition, some restaurants offer discounts for customers who bring their own tableware or provide a free cup of tea.

In China, 2,000 Beijing and Guangzhou restaurants have abandoned wooden chopsticks, and a restaurant website has said that restaurants it works with using reusable chopsticks. In 2010, the Chinese government issued a notice encouraging restaurants to provide reusable chopsticks, but Greenpeace said the notice did not mention measures to achieve this goal. Ai Zhong Li, a spokesman for Greenpeace, said: "More and more college students and white-collar workers bring their own chopsticks while dining. This is a positive phenomenon, but the problem of disposable chopsticks is still very serious."

By Best Chopsticks

Chinese Chopsticks Culture

The Chinese character “箸” is translated as chopsticks, which are a unique eating utensil invented by the ancient Chinese. During the Neolithic Age in 7,000 BC to 6,000 BC, ancient chopsticks were primarily made of animal bones. Today, among the various eating utensils available, chopsticks best embody Chinese cultural characteristics, becoming an important symbol of Chinese tradition. 

1. The origin and development  of  Chinese character “箸”(Chopsticks)
Chopsticks were pronounced “Zhu” in ancient China, while it is known today as “Kuaizi.”

It was written in Shuo Wen Jie Zi - the radical “bamboo”( 竹 ), which is the Chinese dictionary of words and expressions. The Chinese character “箸” means an eating utensil with “竹” as the meaning element and “者” as the sound element. It was noted in Cihai Dictionary that chopsticks were a flexible tool in ancient China. Thus, the original meaning of “箸” was defined as a tool for picking up food. 

“箸”(chopsticks) was also named “jia”, “ti”, among others. It had various other Chinese characters like “筯” and “櫡”, etc. Originating in the Ming Dynasty, it is generally called “kuaizi.” The Beans Garden Notes written by Lu Rong recorded that everywhere had taboos in its folk customs, especially when people spoke. Thus, many avoid saying “zhu” (English: prevent) and “fan” (English: capsize) when ships are proceeding, so the Chinese character for “chopsticks” was “zhu” (箸) in ancient China, but was replaced by the pronunciation for the character “kuai”(快)，meaning quick and the Chinese character for leaning cloth pronounced “fanbu” (幡布), but finally replaced by the pronunciation “mobu”(抹布). The Chinese character “箸” first appeared in the Curse on Chu in the early Qing Dynasty.

2. The characteristics of Chinese chopstick culture
Chopsticks are composed of two pieces of sticks with the same shape, size, and material, created with integrity, tenacity, and honesty. The two chopsticks have no mechanical linkage, but they can coordinate well with one another through the operation of fingers, which is the materialization of what China considers character.

The primary component of Chinese chopstick culture:

Popularity: 1.3 billion people in China and Chinese people that are abroad know how to use chopsticks from an early age (3 on average). In terms of necessary appliances, its popularity is second to none.

Diversification: the chopsticks are made of a wide range of materials including bamboo, wood, animal bone(horn), ivory, beautiful stone ( bowler, crystal, jade and Shoushan stone），mental（gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead, alloy and stainless, etc.), rare materials(dragon horn, rhinoceros horn, turtle, and the bone of peacock) and others (fishbone, coral and plastic, etc.), combining as more than 200 types of chopsticks. The chopsticks are designed with engravings in various colors, from short lines, and spiral lines to poems and couplets from ancient times, paintings and pyrographs.

Inheritance: Chopsticks are representative of Chinese culture.  Whenever and wherever Chinese people are they find it difficult to have a meal without chopsticks. In addition, chopsticks can be presented as a gift or function as a unique handcraft for people to distribute and express their feelings.

Global Presence: According to the statistics, over 1.8 billion people use chopsticks. Chopstick culture has great significance around the world having become a common cultural marker of “the circle of Chinese food culture” which includes many other Asian countries, such as “Chopsticks Day” in Japan, “Golden Chopsticks Award” in France and the trend of “for your health, please pick up your chopsticks” in western countries.

3. The use of chopsticks:
The correct use of chopsticks can be described as follows: the right-hand holds the chopsticks with thumb and forefinger pinching the upper end of the chopsticks and the other three fingers naturally holding up the chopsticks, and both ends of chopsticks must remain aligned. Before a meal, the chopsticks are neatly placed to the right of the bowl and after the meal in the middle of the bowl in a vertical direction.

4. Chopstick Taboos:
Unexpected misfortune:

Putting chopsticks uneven in length on the table is regarded as a sign of misfortune.

Immortal guiding:

The chopsticks are pinched by the thumb, middle finger, ring finger and little finger while the index finger reaches out, which refers to blame.

Sucking chopsticks with a sound:

Having one end of chopsticks in the mouth and sucking it repeatedly with a sound is an impolite behavior.

Striking the cup:

Striking plates and bowls is considered disrespectful and is despised by others.

Holding chopsticks around the table:

Using chopsticks to select food in the plates over and over again indicates a lack of self-cultivation and defiance, resulting in disgust.

Stirring for choices:

Taking chopsticks to “search” through foods on the plates is poor form as that is often known as “grave-digging.”

Dripping food:

Do not Drop soup into other dishes or on the table when picking up food with chopsticks, as it is deemed disrespectful.

Heaven and earth upside down:

When seated for a meal, using chopsticks upside down means that you are a beggar and a beggar cannot be a chooser.

Key stand:

Using a chopstick to stick foods on the plates is perceived as humiliating to others at the table.

Burning incense in public:

Chopsticks should not be left vertically in a bowl of rice, because it resembles the ritual of incense-burning that symbolizes “feeding” the dead.

Cross:

During the meal, chopsticks should not be crossed on a table as it is perceived negatively. This is seen as the same when students make mistakes on their homework and are given a cross by the teacher, the accused sign across to confess their crime.

Falling chopsticks disturbing the immortal:

At a meal, it is discourteous if chopsticks accidentally fall to the ground, because falling chopsticks stand for a disturbance of buried ancestors.

5. Chopstick Culture
Chopsticks originated in China. Though simple and little, they are a great invention in the history of mankind. “Chopsticks, although only two pieces of wood, represent the Leverage Theory in physics,” Dr. Li Zhengdao stated. He is a famous Chinese physicist in China. According to modern science, the long-standing use of chopsticks makes fingers flexible, which is beneficial for physical and mental health. Thus, among the various eating utensils available today, chopsticks have a special charm stand and are popular for people.

Chopstick culture can be seen around the world. In Japan, people set August 4th each year as Chopsticks Day. In South Korea, there are chopsticks lessons in primary schools. How to use chopsticks correctly is a part of the curriculum. In 1974, American President Nixon visited China where he talked immensely about China’s miraculous chopsticks. According to statistics, there are now over 1.5 billion people using chopsticks on a day-to-day basis worldwide. Thus, it can be seen that the chopsticks that were invented in China have become one of the most popular and important eating utensils in the world. Through the distribution of chopsticks around the world, people have been able to learn more about China.

Chopsticks symbolize the age-old Chinese civilization and epitomize the 5,000 years of history China has had. Whether a Chinese person is living in China or abroad they cherish their bond with chopsticks.

“A chopstick can be broken easily; ten pairs of chopsticks hold each other tightly.” People are familiar with this fine and enlightened song by Fu Disheng, a well-known singer in China. Indeed, a chopstick is so useless and delicate that it can be broken readily. However, ten pairs of chopsticks possess strength, which is indestructible under any circumstance. All Chinese people draw on this unity and spirit, with which they boast perseverance and power. It will always influence, inspire and encourage people.

There is a poem by Cheng Lianggui, a famous writer during the Song Dynasty, who praises the selfless dedication to using chopsticks. For thousands of years, the reason people embrace chopsticks is not only because of their function but the spirit of the chopsticks.

In a word, chopsticks are a part of China’s catering culture that has a long history.

6. Chopstick Facts
One major characteristic of the culinary custom of China involves the use of chopsticks. Chopsticks, also called “zhu”(箸）in ancient times, have a long history in China. “One can’t have a meal without chopsticks,” which was started in the Book of Rites. We know that chopsticks were used as early as the Sang Dynasty.

1. Chopsticks
Lan Xiang, the curator of folk chopsticks pavilion, said that historical records date ivory chopsticks back to 3,100 years ago. As written in the records, “Zhou” (the emperor in late Sang Dynasty) used the ivory chopsticks while Ji Zi, Zhou’s uncle raised concern,” because it was too luxurious. After the emperor killed the elephant to show his wealth as an emperor he sawed the ivory for making chopsticks which are known as the first chopsticks in history. Historically, it was not the first chopsticks but the first ones made of ivory in China.

The existence of Chinese chopsticks traces back to almost 1,000 earlier than ivory chopsticks. The earliest chopsticks were made out of bamboo because China’s ancestors lived in primitive forests. They broke down branches to get cooked food out a pot. It was impossible to grab food by hand because it was so hot. Thus, they came up with a way of using branches to pick up food. Alternatively, people took food by hand when it cools down. If people want to eat hot food, they had to use branches as chopsticks. We can assume that ancient chopsticks differed in length and size in contrast to chopsticks that are used today. Ancient people in China transitioned from eating food with branches to chopsticks. 

Since the Sang Dynasty, chopsticks with the same length and size have been popular. They have about 4,000-years of history from the time they appeared in primitive times.

In ancient times, chopsticks were made of local materials such as branches, sticks, animal bones and horns. Chopsticks were mainly made of wood and bamboo in primitive societies. Ivory chopsticks and jade chopsticks emerged in the Xiang and Sang dynasties, while copper and iron chopsticks during the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States (from 770BC to 221BC), flamboyant lacquer chopsticks, delicate silver and golden chopsticks in Han-Wei and six Dynasties (the kingdom of Wu, Jing, Song, Qi, Liang, Chen). Today, there are chopsticks made of various materials including, ivory, rhinoceros horn, gilded ebony, and assorted jades.       

2. Legend of Chopsticks

Chopsticks, two sticks, have various functions that include selecting and taking food. They are cost-effective and convenient to use. People who have used chopsticks, including Chinese people and foreigners admire the inventor, but many don’t know who he is. When and where were the first chopsticks invented? No one is able to answer this question. There are no specific data to record this invention which has made significant contributions to human civilization. Some believe that increased illiteracy among other reasons has created a lack of information linking the creation of chopsticks to a specific timeframe. There are, however, circumstantial evidence materials to study chopstick culture. Below is a summary of the three legends of many that center on the origin of the chopstick.

A. Jiang Ziya and Chopsticks
The legend was spread in areas such as Sichuan province. It was said that Jiang Ziya was capable of nothing but fishing. So poor he was that his wife couldn’t bear to live with him and planned to murder him to marry another man.

One day Jiang went back home after fishing, empty-handed. His wife said, “You must be hungry. I cooked meat for you. Come eat!” He was hungry so he stretched his hands to get the meat. Suddenly, a bird from the window pecked at his hand. The pain caused him to yell. Even in pain, Jiang tried to drive the bird out of the window but the bird pecked him a second time. Jiang was so confused; he didn’t understand why the bird kept pecking him. To figure it out he tried to get the meat again but the same thing happened. He realized it was because the bird was a divine bird and went after it to send it to a hill so no one could see it. Standing on a branch of bamboo, the divine bird was singing, “Jiang Ziya, don’t eat the meat with your bare hands, use what’s beneath my feet.” On hearing this, Jiang took two small sticks from the bamboo tree and went home. However, his wife urged him to try eating meat again. So, he took the meat with two sticks. After he did that smoke came out of the bamboo. Jiang pretended to be unconscious of the poison that had been released, stating to his wife, “What’s going on with the smoke? Could it be toxic?” He picked up the meat for his wife who hurried outside with her face turning pale with fear.

Jiang Ziya knew that the magical bamboo given by the divine bird could detect poison. Thus, he ate every meal with them. After the incident, his wife dared not to poison his food anymore and his neighbors learned to eat with a bamboo branch. Later, more and more people followed, so the custom of eating with chopsticks has been passed down through generations.

The legend was an outcome of Jiang Ziya worship, which is inconsistent with historical records. Ivory chopsticks emerged during King Zhou in the later period of the Shang Dynasty where Jiang lived. King Zhou had ivory chopsticks and Jiang Ziya’s bamboo branch chopsticks were not invented simultaneously so the dates are inconsistent. But it is true that chopsticks were made of bamboo in that period of the Shang Dynasty.

B. Da Ji (the wife of Zhou emperor in Sang dynasty) and chopsticks
The legend was spread throughout Jiangsu province. The emperor of the Sang Dynasty was unpredictable, when he had a meal, either complaining that the fish was not fresh enough or the chicken soup was too hot or too cool to eat. As a result, many chefs were killed by him because of his disapproval. Da Ji, a new chef, and his wife knew it was difficult to serve him. Thus, she would taste the dishes before the meal, to ensure that the emperor was not disappointed. On one occasion, it was too late to change the hot dish as the emperor approached the table so she took down her emerald hairpin to pick up the food blowing on the food before putting it in his mouth. As he enjoyed the service offered by Da Ji, his wife was required to do this every day. After, Da Ji asked a craftsman to create a pair of emerald hairpins to pick up food for the emperor. Thus, this was the first type of chopsticks.

This legend is not full of myths like the first one, while it is similar to historical accounts there are some elements that are inconsistent. The steel chopsticks excavated by archaeologists in graves from the Sang Dynasty in Anyang, Henan province is proved to be earlier than the late Sang Dynasty (the times of Zhou emperor) in textual accounts. Obviously, chopsticks were not invented by Zhou emperor or Da Ji, but the product of an earlier dynasty.

C. Da Yu and Chopsticks
This legend was spread throughout northeastern China. It is said during Yao and Shun times, Shun ordered Yu to control the flood. After receiving the order, Yu swore to eliminate the flood disaster. He tried his best to fight against the flood day and night, even to the point of not eating and sleeping, let alone rest.

Yu went to an island by boat because he was so hungry that he used an earth pot to cook meat. After the meat was well-done in boiled water, he was unable to take the meat by hand and didn’t want to waste time to wait for it to cool so he took two branches to pick up the meat from the soup. After, to save time, he always took small branches and bamboos to take out food from the hot pot so that he could save time. For a long time, he was skilled at picking up food with small sticks, which was imitated by his subordinates who believed this way of eating could allow them to not touch hot and greasy food by hand. Thus, the first types of chopsticks were born.

Although the legend isn’t historically inaccurate, it showed people’s way of thinking in the past. Compared with the first two legends, people were more convinced by the accidental process of discovering chopsticks in the third legend, because it was simple and realistic.

The main reason chopsticks were invented because of the hot temperature of the food. In ancient times, due to the lack of utensils and animal bones being short, flimsy and difficult to process, Chinese ancestors used fine branches or bamboos to eat. Furthermore, people lived in the wilderness where branches and bamboos were the most convenient materials to use. Through research on the shape of chopsticks, people can find chopsticks today that still have primitive characteristics. Even with over 4,000 years of development, the original features remain.

There is no doubt that a legend is formed with people’s selection, omission, fiction, exaggeration, and even illusion, and Da Yu’s invention of chopsticks is no exception. Da Yu’s legend was no more than the integration of chopsticks into one character, Da Yu. The creation of chopsticks could be ascribed to time and how humans have evolved to use utensils to eat. However, it is also possible that chopsticks stemmed from the time where emperor Yu used it to eat in the Sang Dynasty.

7. The composition of chopsticks
Chopsticks seem simple and flexible, but they vary in types and composition. There are over 100 types in Chinese history, of which the most common are made out of wood, bamboo, and melamine. Lan Xiang divided China’s chopsticks into five types according to his collection and research. They are as follows: bamboo chopsticks, metal chopsticks, ivory and bone chopsticks, jade chopsticks and chemical chopsticks.
The first and most primitive, wood and bamboo chopsticks remain popular today. Among wood and bamboo chopsticks, bamboo chopsticks are made out of different types of bamboos including, nandina bamboo, mottled bamboo as well as Phyllostachys pubescens, among others. Out of the many types of wood chopsticks, the most renowned are those made of nanmu, arbor, and mahogany, and the most popular are ebony chopsticks in the Qing Dynasty. In the book, A Dream of Red Mansions the grandmother, Liu, went to the Prospect Garden, where Wang Xifeng gave her a gilded ivory chopstick during a meal. While grandmother Liu was not accustomed to it, it was similar to ebony chopsticks that were the most universal chopsticks with silver on the top, middle and bottom.

The materials that metal chopsticks were made of include bronze, gold, silver, iron into stainless steel present-day.

Ivory and bone chopsticks refer to chopsticks made of ivory and bone of animals like cow, camel, and elephant, etc. Camel's bones are often used in northern China.

The fourth type of chopstick is jade. The materials vary from the use of white marble, white jade, emerald used by Empress Dowager Ci Xi of the Qing Dynasty, as well as gilded emerald. Another type is the youngest chemical chopsticks made of melamine and plastic, etc. Many uncommonly used chopsticks today include those made of bamboo palm, silver ivory, ebony inlaid with silver, and gilded walrus ivory chopsticks.

Reference:
https://www.chinaculturetour.com/culture/chinese-chopsticks-culture.htm