Recently I Saw A Netizen Asking A Question: “In Order To Protect The Environment, I Always Bring My Own Eco-Friendly Chopsticks, And I Only Buy Wooden Tableware! However, I Saw A Discussion A While Ago That Because Wooden Tableware Is Easy To Break, Manufacturers Will Add A Lot Of Chemicals And Chemicals To Make It Durable. Heavy Metals, Is This True? Will It Be Poisonous If Used Frequently?”
To Answer This Question, We Need To First Understand What Types Of “Wooden Food Utensils” Are There?
Are Wooden Eating Utensils Safe? The Key Point Is “What To Wear”
One Of The Biggest Disadvantages Of Using Materials Like Wood And Bamboo As Tableware Is That They Are Afraid Of Water.
Because Wood Itself Absorbs Water Easily, And Moisture Is The Main Factor Causing Bacteria To Breed And Wood To Rot. Therefore, If It Is Bare Wood Tableware That Is Advertised As “100% Original Wood, No Artificial Coating”, Please Handle It With Special Care: Wash It Immediately After Use, Do Not Soak It In Water For A Long Time, And Be Sure To Wait For It To Dry Before Storing It. If You Find Any Discoloration, Odor, Wear, Or Cracks, Replace Them Immediately: The Immediate Danger Of Bacteria-Growing Wooden Tableware Is Definitely No Lower Than That Of Plastic Products! Therefore, Bare Wood Tableware That Is “Completely Unclothed” Is Not A Good Choice.
Next, What If It Is Colorful And Colorful Wooden Tableware? Of Course, Once It’s Painted, You Won’t Be Afraid Of Water, And You Don’t Have To Worry About Discoloration, Odor, Or Cracking… However, Once These Colorful Coatings Peel Off And Are Eaten, It’s Not Fun. Colored Paints Usually Contain Heavy Metals And Organic Solvents For Color Mixing, Color Development, And Stability. These Are Definitely Carcinogenic. Once The Colorful Paint On The Tableware Peels Off, Or Dissolves When Exposed To Heat Or Acid, And Is Eaten Together With The Food, It Will Be Very Bad! Simply Put, Wooden Tableware In Colorful Coats May Be More Poisonous Than Plastic!
Finally, And The Most Common Type, The Original Color Of The Wood Is Visible, But It Feels Smooth, As If It Has Been Coated With Paint. This Is The So-Called “Lacquered” Wooden Tableware. Usually, After The Wood Is Directly Made Into Tableware, A Layer Of Raw Lacquer Is Directly Applied To The Outside. Applying Raw Lacquer Is Like Putting A Protective Film On The Tableware, Which Can Make The Tableware “Waterproof”, Which In Turn Reduces The Possibility Of Bacterial Growth And Makes The Tableware More Durable.
“Raw Lacquer Is Also Lacquer! It Should Be Scary To Eat It, Right?”
Don’T Worry, Lacquer Is Actually A Natural Resin Extracted From The Lacquer Tree. The Main Component Of Raw Lacquer Is Urushiol, Which Can Easily Cause Skin Allergies And Itching In Direct Contact, But It Becomes Non-Toxic After It Is Applied To The Surface Of The Utensil And Left To Dry. If No Other Substances Are Added To The Raw Lacquer, Generally Speaking, It Complies With The Food And Drug Administration Regulations And Can Be Used With Confidence. When I Went To A Japanese Restaurant To Eat, I Saw Gorgeous And Elegant “Lacquerware”, Which Is Made By Repeatedly Coating And Processing Raw Lacquer.
Therefore, For Wooden Tableware, It Is Not Good To Wear No Clothes, And It Is Not Good To Wear Too Fancy Clothes. It Is Safest To Wear Simple And Plain “Raw Lacquer”.
How To Choose Wooden Tableware?
When Choosing Wooden Tableware, Try To Choose Original Colors (Raw Lacquer, No Coloring, No Painting) And Simple Shapes (No Patterns), Because There Is No Uneven Surface That Is Not Easy To Harbor Dirt And Evil; If There Is An Outer Packaging, It Is Also Recommended To Pay Attention To It. Is There Any Relevant Specification That Indicates “Passed Hygienic Standards For Food Utensils, Containers And Packaging”?
Even If You Choose The Most Natural And Safest Tableware Material, Good Usage Habits Are Still Very Important. Generally Speaking, Household Wooden Tableware Is Often Washed, And If It Is Dried And Stored Incorrectly, It Is Indeed Easy For Bacteria And Mold To Grow, So Special Attention Should Be Paid To It. In Addition, After Repeated Use And Scrubbing Of Tableware, It Is Easy To Produce Small Lines On The Surface, Which Is Also Easy To Cause Damage. Bacteria Breed And Dirt Remains, So My Suggestion Is To Replace It Regularly Every 3 To 6 Months. If The Tableware Is Scratched Or Deformed, It Is Recommended To Replace It Immediately To Avoid The Growth Of Bacteria On The Uneven Surface.
It May Sound More Troublesome Than Ordinary Habits, But For The Sake Of Your Family’s Health, If You Want To Use Wooden Tableware, You Should Put More Thought Into The Selection And Replace The Tableware Regularly!
Post time: Dec-26-2023