This commonly used item at home needs to be replaced every three months, otherwise the whole family will suffer from cancer!

Many people know that toothbrushes, towels and other items need to be replaced regularly, but not many people know how often chopsticks should be replaced. It is common for a pair of chopsticks to be used for several years. It is generally believed that there is no need to replace chopsticks as long as they are not broken.

Disposable chopsticks that are used beyond their expiration date will breed various molds, which may cause digestive system diseases such as infectious diarrhea and vomiting in mild cases. Severely moldy chopsticks will breed aflatoxin, a substance that has been widely recognized to induce liver cancer.

Household chopsticks that have been used beyond their expiration date have a particularly high water content. Because household chopsticks are used frequently and washed with water for a long time, they can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Keeping chopsticks in the cupboard for a long time may increase the chance of them deteriorating by more than five times.

Three tips for healthy chopstick use:

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

The survey found that the color of ordinary chopsticks will become darker or lighter over time and frequency of use after 3-6 months of use. In addition, the edible paint on the surface of the chopsticks is worn away due to the frequency of use. If your chopsticks change in color from when you bought them, they need to be replaced immediately.

If the color of the chopsticks changes, it means that the properties of the material itself must have changed. The factors that cause color changes are usually the adhesion of food, detergents, air, and residues in the serving cabinet during use.

Dry the chopsticks before storing to avoid mold

It is understood that the chopsticks currently used by ordinary people at home are mainly made of bamboo and wood, and very few are made of metal and other materials. However, the use of these two materials is relatively special, and people are usually accustomed to placing the chopsticks in a chopstick holder or cupboard after washing them.

Buy new chopsticks and wash them thoroughly

Experts warn that chopsticks are easily contaminated with viruses, bacteria and certain chemicals during the production and transportation process. Newly bought chopsticks can be washed with tap water first, then washed with detergent for a second time, and finally put in a pot and boil in boiling water for half an hour.