Don't believe me, read on!
[SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 130%"][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"][FONT size=3]SCARY STORY OF DISPOSABLE CHOPSTICKS[/FONT][/SPAN][/SPAN]
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[SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 130%"][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"][FONT size=2]Some disposable chopstick (especially the cheap ones) are made from bamboo trees[/FONT][/SPAN][/SPAN]
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[SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 130%"][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-joc5sI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/z5cKDdIRkV4/s1600-h/chopstick-making.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105288649178408642 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-joc5sI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/z5cKDdIRkV4/s400/chopstick-making.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A]
[FONT size=2]This is a photo of Disposable chopstick production in central Vietnam
[/FONT][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-Toc5qI/AAAAAAAAB7I/VuwfTjNUE8U/s1600-h/chopstick-bleaching.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105288644883441314 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-Toc5qI/AAAAAAAAB7I/VuwfTjNUE8U/s400/chopstick-bleaching.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A]
[FONT size=2]These pre-formed chopstick is then bleach using sulfur & Hydrogen Peroxide (Not disinfect)
[/FONT][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-Toc5rI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/NqD_66EfN84/s1600-h/chopstick-drying.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105288644883441330 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-Toc5rI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/NqD_66EfN84/s400/chopstick-drying.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A]
[FONT size=2]After the bleaching process they are left to dry in the sun.
[/FONT][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhNDoc5uI/AAAAAAAAB7o/w9dWxASOLVI/s1600-h/chopstick-packing.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105288898286511842 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhNDoc5uI/AAAAAAAAB7o/w9dWxASOLVI/s400/chopstick-packing.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A]
[FONT size=2]Dried disposable chopsticks will then be bundled up and ready to ship to countries like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia or even Japan.
[/FONT][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhXDoc50I/AAAAAAAAB8Y/4LldniQV9EI/s1600-h/shipping.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105289070085203778 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhXDoc50I/AAAAAAAAB8Y/4LldniQV9EI/s400/shipping.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A]
[FONT size=2]It takes 1 mth from Ex-factory to Taiwan. Meantime, the chopstick is exposed to rat & cockroach. (I doubt the rat and cockroaches part, this is due to the fact that each container that contains wood stuffs would need to be fumigated before it would be allowed to left any port. But then again, the chemicals from the fumigation is even more toxic! )
[/FONT][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhNToc5wI/AAAAAAAAB74/w97Q7GBKyEM/s1600-h/chopstick-wrapping.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105288902581479170 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhNToc5wI/AAAAAAAAB74/w97Q7GBKyEM/s400/chopstick-wrapping.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A][FONT size=2]Wrapping process (withoutany disinfection), Upon arival in in the destinated countries, these chopstick are sent to small factory to be wrapped without any disinfection process b4 sending to restaurants.
[/FONT][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-Doc5pI/AAAAAAAAB7A/TnxIek4ShpQ/s1600-h/broken-chopstick.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105288640588474002 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-Doc5pI/AAAAAAAAB7A/TnxIek4ShpQ/s400/broken-chopstick.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A]
[FONT size=2]There are thousand and million of monkeys residing inside these chopstick.
[/FONT] [DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-joc5tI/AAAAAAAAB7g/AHe2UfV78rM/s1600-h/chopstick-monkey-face.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105288649178408658 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmg-joc5tI/AAAAAAAAB7g/AHe2UfV78rM/s400/chopstick-monkey-face.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A][FONT size=2]Can u see it?
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[DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhNToc5xI/AAAAAAAAB8A/dfoEtRSNP0k/s1600-h/monkeyface-closeup.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105288902581479186 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhNToc5xI/AAAAAAAAB8A/dfoEtRSNP0k/s400/monkeyface-closeup.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A][FONT size=2]Monkey face inside the chopstick
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[FONT size=2]The leftover from the chemical would stay inside these holes until you use them.
[SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"]Conclusion from the experiment done on these disposable chopsticks conducted by primary school student.[/SPAN]
[/FONT] [OL] [LI][FONT size=2]Soak the chopstick in the water for one week – It stinks [/FONT] [LI][FONT size=2]Planted green pea in the soaked water, resulted longer growing process, it stop growing when reach 5-6cm, & finally died. [/FONT] [LI][FONT size=2]Smoke from burning these chopstick is tested to be acidic.[/FONT][/LI][/OL][FONT size=2][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"]Conclusions :[/SPAN]
[/FONT] [UL] [LI][FONT size=2]Avoid using disposable chopstick which is very white (excessively bleached) as it is not the original colour of the wood. Chopstick that is too white may have been bleach excessively. [/FONT] [LI][FONT size=2]Advisable to soak in hot water b4 use to release carbon dioxide. [/FONT] [LI][FONT size=2]Best not to use these chopstick for bbq, and leave in the soup as it tend to release more carbon dioxide
[/FONT][/LI][/UL][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"][FONT size=2]Possible consequences of using disposable chopstick :
[/FONT][/SPAN] [OL] [LI][FONT size=2]Suffer difficult breathing, vomit, diarrhoea etc. and loss of calcium due to the existance of sulfur. [/FONT] [LI][FONT size=2]Suffer Asthma attacks and breathing difficulties. [/FONT] [LI][FONT size=2]Limpa blockage (err ... what is limpa?)[/FONT][/LI][/OL][FONT size=2][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"]If you really have to use disposable chopsticks then ....[/SPAN]
[/FONT] [UL] [LI][FONT size=2]It is suggested to smell the chopstick b4 use. If any sour smell, possibly it contain CO2. And soak them in warm and hot water for 2 to 3 min to reduce the CO2.[/FONT][/LI][/UL][FONT size=2]But the best is still to switch back to conventional type of chopstick and stop using the disposable one other than the health benefits mentioned above there are also enviromental issues that we need to be aware of :
[/FONT] [UL] [LI][FONT size=2]A 20-year old tree could produce 3000-4000 pairs of chopsticks. [/FONT] [LI][FONT size=2]Taiwanese use more than 100billion pairs annually, Which means 29 million of trees are being cut every year.
[/FONT][/LI][/UL] [DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmdajoc5nI/AAAAAAAAB6w/YMcPaAYJIv8/s1600-h/chopsticks-trash.gif[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105284732168234610 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/Rtmdajoc5nI/AAAAAAAAB6w/YMcPaAYJIv8/s400/chopsticks-trash.gif[/img][/FONT][/A][FONT size=2]Disposable chopstick effect to our environment
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[DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"][A onblur="try (parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully()
catch(e) ()" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhXDoc5zI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/PIL46hU99_U/s1600-h/recycling-chopstick.jpg[/img][FONT size=2][img id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105289070085203762 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_U_VkeJI_300/RtmhXDoc5zI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/PIL46hU99_U/s400/recycling-chopstick.jpg[/img][/FONT][/A][FONT size=2]As reported by reliable sources, it was found that the disposable chopstick are being recycle by reusing sulfur & Hydrogen Peroxide.
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[FONT size=2]How true is this? Well you be the judge yourself .... as for me I long long time also no use disposable chopstick ledi.[/FONT][/SPAN][/SPAN]
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[SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 130%"][SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"][FONT size=2]Source: [A href="http://rojaks.blogspot.com/"]http://rojaks.blogspot.com/[/A][/FONT][/SPAN][/SPAN]
