Using Contaminated Tableware for a Long Time Is Fatal to Health
Be Careful When Using Heat-Sensitive Plastic Chopsticks
A case of a family dying from 'liver cancer' after using wooden chopsticks for too long has drawn attention. On the 23rd (local time), Hong Kong media 'HK01' reported that Tan Dunzi, a head nurse in the Clinical Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, emphasized the importance of washing and replacing wooden chopsticks.
Wooden chopsticks. Photo is not related to any specific expression in the article [Image source=Pixabay]
The nurse introduced a case from China in 2013 where a family of four consecutively developed cancer and died as an example of the dangers of wooden chopsticks. According to experts' investigations, the family had ingested 'aflatoxin' after using moldy cooking utensils for a long time. Aflatoxin is a Group 1 carcinogen. By ingesting carcinogens over a long period, the entire family developed cancer and died.
Head nurse Tan Dunzi warned that the family used wooden chopsticks and continued to use them even after mold appeared on the chopsticks. She added that she always discards and replaces chopsticks with new ones if they develop cracks or splits.
She also introduced the proper washing method for utensils such as chopsticks. For example, bamboo chopsticks have patterns on the upper surface, so they must be washed thoroughly following the patterns. Simply washing utensils roughly cannot completely remove contaminants.
The material of chopsticks should also be chosen carefully. Chopsticks made of materials such as melamine or plastic are vulnerable to heat and may deform, so they should not be soaked in hot soup or similar. Especially, prolonged exposure of plastic chopsticks to heat can release harmful substances affecting organs such as the liver and kidneys. Head nurse Tan Dunzi recommended using stainless steel chopsticks, which are resistant to heat.
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