Don't rub chopsticks back and forth when washing them? I was stunned when I saw this trending search...

Author: Gongzi Xin

Recently, #Don't rub chopsticks back and forth when washing them# has become a hot search

Netizens are confused~

Don't rub it? What are you trying to do?

Nowadays, when dining out, we refuse to use disposable chopsticks because they are not environmentally friendly and unhealthy. But are the chopsticks we use every day at home necessarily safe and healthy?

Household chopsticks that have been used for a long time have a particularly high water content and will breed various molds. In mild cases, they may cause infectious diarrhea, vomiting and other digestive system diseases. Severely moldy chopsticks will breed "aflatoxin", which has been widely recognized to induce liver cancer. Zheng Peifen, director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Zhejiang Hospital, recommends that chopsticks should not be used for more than half a year, otherwise it will cause health problems.

When should you change your chopsticks?

The lifespan of chopsticks is 3-6 months. If they change color, they should be replaced immediately!

The investigation found that after 3-6 months of use, the color of ordinary chopsticks will become darker or lighter with time and frequency of use, and the edible paint on the surface of the chopsticks will also be worn.

The change in color of chopsticks indicates that the nature of the material itself has changed. The color change is usually caused by the adhesion of food, detergents, air, and residues in the serving cabinet. In addition, long-term accumulation of bacteria is also one of the main factors causing color changes.

As long as the chopsticks change from when you bought them, especially the color, you need to replace them immediately. How should you wash chopsticks?

Why don't you rub chopsticks vigorously when washing them? Most families wash chopsticks in a "heroic" way: grab a handful of chopsticks, rub them vigorously with detergent, and then rinse them with clean water. In fact, this can easily make the chopsticks, especially the "bare chopsticks" without a protective layer, roughen them, produce many tiny grooves and cracks, and allow pathogenic microorganisms to remain.

In theory, the small holes on the chopstick box are to allow the water on the chopsticks to flow out, but the problem is that the bottom of the chopstick box is not the place with small holes, which is easy to accumulate water. In addition, some people are greedy for a moment and put the chopsticks with a lot of water directly into the chopstick box. The humid and unventilated environment becomes a breeding ground for many bacteria. In addition, some families will use a rag to wipe the water on the chopsticks, but they don’t know that the rag is also full of bacteria, so the chopsticks will be contaminated again.

suggestion:

When washing chopsticks, do not wash the whole bunch at once, wash them one pair at a time;

After washing the chopsticks, drain the water and put them in the chopstick box;

Keep dry and wet chopsticks separate to avoid cross-infection of bacteria;

It is best to clean the chopstick box once a week to ensure that the inside of the box is dry and hygienic;

Disinfect the chopstick box frequently.

Kind tips

Regular disinfection: It is best to disinfect once a week.

Steaming method: This is the simplest and most practical disinfection method. Put the cleaned chopsticks in a steamer or in boiling water and steam for 30 minutes.

Microwave method: Wash the chopsticks and put them in the microwave. Use medium heat to sterilize for 2-3 minutes. This can sterilize the chopsticks. However, the microwave oven sterilizes in the form of microwaves and is not suitable for sterilizing plastic or chopsticks with metal patterns.

Home disinfection cabinet method: Whether it is infrared high-temperature disinfection or ozone sterilization, the chopsticks can be restored to their original clean state. Plastic chopsticks are easily deformed at high temperatures and cannot be disinfected at high temperatures.

Let chopsticks have a fixed owner: Family members should try not to mix chopsticks. It is best to implement the "separate chopsticks system" and do not let chopsticks become a "medium" for the spread of germs. Especially when there are patients with hepatitis A or hepatitis E at home, chopsticks must be used separately and stored in isolation.

Natural chopsticks are healthier: It is best not to buy painted colored chopsticks, because paint often contains toxic chemicals. After long-term use, the paint on the surface of the chopsticks will fall off and enter the human body, which is harmful to health. It is recommended to use chopsticks made of natural materials, such as bamboo chopsticks or natural wooden chopsticks . Because of the material, it is not easy to clean, so you should keep it clean and dry and replace it regularly.

References:

[1] Have you not changed your chopsticks yet? Zheng Peifen, Medical and Health Technology, Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Health Management, 2016.09

[2] Chopsticks have big health problems, Yao Fuyou, Medical and Health Technology, Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Health Expo, 2008.08