1 and 1 Will it cause cancer if used for more than three months?
Aflatoxin, a carcinogen, may breed after long-term use.
Chopsticks cause cancer? The reporter found that the source of the Weibo came from an investigation report of CCTV. CCTV reported that the color of ordinary chopsticks will become darker or lighter with the frequency of use after 3-6 months. Disposable chopsticks used for too long will breed various molds, which may lead to infectious diarrhea, vomiting and other diseases. Severe moldy chopsticks can breed "aflatoxin". The Yangzi Evening News reporter learned that the substance is listed as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization, which will have a destructive effect on human and animal liver tissues and has been widely recognized as inducing liver cancer.
The reporter learned that in order to prolong the service life, the surface of wooden chopsticks sold in the market is coated with a layer of edible paint-raw paint, so that the surface of chopsticks is not easy to be attached by bacteria. However, after using wooden chopsticks for a long time, the paint on the surface is easy to fall off or be damaged, and the sawdust is loose, which provides living space for the growth of bacteria. At the same time, household chopsticks are washed with water for a long time and concentrated in the cupboard, which leads to high water content of chopsticks and provides a very good growth environment for bacterial reproduction.
Although Aspergillus flavus mostly exists in moldy grain, Du, director of the Microbiological Inspection and Quarantine Department of Nanjing CDC, believes that "Aspergillus flavus may breed on chopsticks." Fungi are easy to grow in humid and sunless environment, and Aspergillus flavus is no exception.
2, 2 carcinogens can't be washed away?
It is suggested that chopsticks be boiled in boiling water for half an hour every week, and then dried.
"I never knew it before." After the news that chopsticks cause cancer spread on the Internet, many netizens found it unbelievable and even thought it was "unreliable". Yesterday, the reporter consulted 20 citizens around him, and only two citizens proposed to replace chopsticks used at home once every six months or so.
Humidity can lead to mildew. Will thorough drying improve the situation? The reporter consulted Tianzhu, Zhejiang, a manufacturer engaged in chopsticks production for many years. Miss Liu of the company told the reporter that the production of chopsticks "cannot be too dry or too wet, and there is a certain moisture standard." If it is excessively dried, it will lead to the distortion of bamboo and wood chopsticks. For ordinary people, the most common way is to wash chopsticks and put them in chopsticks boxes to drain naturally, but it is inevitable that water will accumulate. At the same time, the reporter also learned that aflatoxin is heat-resistant and it is difficult to completely sterilize at cooking temperature in daily life.
However, Du of Nanjing CDC suggested that putting chopsticks in boiling water for half an hour every week and then drying them in the air can still achieve good disinfection effect.
3, 3 Chopsticks also have a shelf life?
Experiments show that it is more appropriate to change chopsticks once every six months.
The reporter visited Wal-Mart in nanjing xinjiekou and found that more than half of the chopsticks are made of bamboo and wood, and there are a few stainless steel chopsticks or alloy chopsticks. Among the eight brands of chopsticks on sale, four brands of chopsticks are marked with the words "It is appropriate to use them for 3~6 months" or "Please replace them in time" on some hardcover products. Regarding the "shelf life" of chopsticks, Miss Liu of Zhejiang Tianzhu Company thinks this statement is "inaccurate". Chopsticks will not deteriorate immediately after the "shelf life", but "chopsticks will deform and turn black after being used for a long time". However, this period of six months or three to five months is proposed, and there is no accurate data standard at present.
Dong Jinshi, secretary-general of the International Food Packaging Association, said that under the same conditions, the longer chopsticks are used, the more bacteria are detected on the cross section; It is a more "appropriate" time node to replace it every six months. However, the reporter did not get any other accurate basis or measurement standard about the replacement time of chopsticks through inquiry.
Prior to this, the state issued compulsory standards for disposable bamboo chopsticks and wooden chopsticks, which clearly stipulated the product types, inspection rules, packaging, marking, storage and transportation of disposable chopsticks. But until today, there is still no unified national standard for reusable chopsticks commonly used in families. Dong Jinshi introduced that the International Food Packaging Association proposed to draft a hygienic standard for reusable chopsticks in 20 10, but this standard has not received an accurate response at present.
4. How to choose chopsticks
1, the material of chopsticks
There are many kinds of chopsticks, such as bamboo, painted and iron.
Bamboo chopsticks are natural materials.
Therefore, you can choose bamboo chopsticks, which are relatively common in appearance and mainly without patterns.
Step 2 draw on chopsticks
Many chopsticks have beautiful patterns and patterns.
When you choose, choose more raw materials and add nothing.
Such chopsticks are safer to use.
3. The taste of chopsticks
When choosing chopsticks, you can smell them.
If there is some paint smell and some sour taste, then it is not recommended that you choose.
4. Storage of chopsticks
Many families put chopsticks in chopsticks cages, so the chopsticks cages should be cleaned regularly.
Chopsticks should be stored in a well-ventilated place, and they will be dry when they are used next time.
5. Replacement of chopsticks
Many families can use a pack of chopsticks for a long time.
Chopsticks will have some cracks due to brushing and using, and these holes are not easy to clean.
Therefore, chopsticks are not recommended for several years.
6, the use of chopsticks
Chopsticks are deformed, cracked and bent.
These chopsticks need to be changed.