Are chopsticks bad to use ? or is this a hoax?

Question

DISPOSABLE CHOPSTICKS
>
>This is a true case, if you don't believe try the following test:
>
>Soak a pair of disposable chopsticks (usually given to you when you buy
>pack food from a Chinese take-away) for between 3 to 5 minute inside hot
>boiling water.
>
>Within minutes and right infront of your eyes, you will notice that some
>white colouring matter seems to be dissolved into the hot water from the
>chopsticks.
>
>
>What is released from the chopsticks is actually a chemical, a bleaching
And guess what? These chemicals itself is likely to cause greater harm to
>our health (if we continue consuming such chemicals into our body on a
>daily basis) not forgetting that since these chemicals used are usually
>carcinogenic in nature, they are likely to cause cancer.

Answer 1

Well what someone told you may be true, but your NOT going to get sick from using chopsticks unless your outright chewing on them everyday to absorb all the bleach. This probably came from some extreme obsessive compulsive organic eating nature nut who might be wearing a mask 24/7.

Plastic forks are also made with chemicals but you don't hear people getting sick from them, odds are you probably have a much higher chance of getting sick from normal silverware at a restaurant that haven't be washed very well.

Answer 2

Nah. The amount released into food while eating is of course so small it would be indetecable. So even if it was that harmful and you ate with them every day it would probably never release enough into the food to matter. Even if this chemical, whatever it is, is that bad for you.

This is a case of getting worked up over nothing. Worry about not getting into a head on on the way to work, or how much time you spend sun tanning. Gezz.

Answer 3

I would think its a hoax but if you want something to worry about wear a surgical mask while you walk around London during rush hour or any big city at peak traffic time then have a look at the color of the thing you would be better off worrying yourself about that than the occaisional bit of chopstick dust !!!

Answer 4

They also bleach the flour in white bread. Are you going to stop eating bread?
Life causes cancer, don't sweat the little things so much.

Also who would use disposable chopsticks EVERY DAY, if you like chopsticks so much go buy a nice pair.

Answer 5

You're not eating the chopsticks. You're eating food with the chopsticks. Unless your saliva is 212 degrees Fahrenheit, don't worry about it. Disposable chopsticks are disposable for a reason!

Answer 6

This is a link that will explain how this is a hoax. Don't ever believe those types of things u read online. Check them out on this site. Do a search like I just did. I typed in chopsticks and boiling. The site is www. snopes. com

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/chopsticks.asp

Answer 7

Hoax. Think about how long disposable chopsticks have been around, and how many people have actually gotten cancer from it. In our society of frivolous lawsuits, this one would be too easy if it were real!

Answer 8

I can't say for sure, but it sounds like a bunch of crap to me. No details is a sure giveaway. How do they know that the white stuff is bad and not just some natural component of the wood. What chemical is it? If people don't give details odds are they don't know what the hell they are talking about. Just my 2 cents.

Answer 9

This is both. There are some very cheap brands that most chinese take out places use that have this chemical bleach compound in them...HOWEVER, unless you are eatting 200 degree food with them, or if you are eatting the sticks themselves there is no way you can get any carcinagenes into your body.

Answer 10

I would very much doubt that using disposable chopsticks is harmful. Everything we use is dyed and full of chemicals anyway ...