In 2020, during the severe period of the new crown epidemic, the use of public chopsticks was frequently mentioned. As the epidemic weakens, how is this hygiene habit implemented? Chongqing Morning Post·Upstream News reporter conducted random interviews with Chongqing citizens. Everyone has different attitudes towards the use of public chopsticks. Most people do not take the initiative to use public chopsticks at dinner parties, but if someone proposes it during the dinner, they will be happy to support it.
Use public chopsticks
Embarrassment
Asked to use public chopsticks and was questioned by classmates
On the evening of July 23, at a restaurant specializing in Sichuan cuisine on the 5th floor of Shin Kong Place, Ms. Yang had a gathering with university classmates. She turned her head and said to the waiter: "Please bring us a few pairs of serving chopsticks..." As soon as she said this, some of the classmates at a large table showed a surprised look: "Oh, they are all acquaintances, and no one has infectious diseases. Where do I need to use public chopsticks..."
The atmosphere during the dinner suddenly became a bit awkward. Some students hurriedly came out to finish the game: "It's okay, let's use them all. The epidemic has not completely passed. Using public chopsticks is indeed beneficial." Ms. Yang took the several pairs of chopsticks handed over by the waiter and placed them next to each dish. After slowly telling everyone the reason for using public chopsticks, the atmosphere gradually eased.
Although the use of public chopsticks has repeatedly encountered cold spots, Ms. Yang said that she will continue to insist on using public chopsticks in the future. "In fact, everyone knows the truth. The use of public chopsticks and spoons can prevent personal tableware from contacting public food when dining together, reduce the contamination of dishes, and reduce the risk of illness from the mouth... But it seems that most people are not used to it. Use." Ms. Yang said, now that as the epidemic weakens, persuading friends around to use public chopsticks seems to be a difficult task. "When a friend insists on using it, I will not force it, but try to convince others with reason."
Abandoning public chopsticks for a reason
Random access
Mostly because of "difficulty" and "not used to"
Is it really that difficult to use public chopsticks?
The reporter conducted random interviews with diners in several Chinese restaurants in Jiangbei District and Yuzhong District. Among the 25 interviewed, 22 citizens made it clear that they did not have the habit of using public chopsticks.
Why are people reluctant to use public chopsticks? "Troublesome" and "not used to" are the most common reasons.
Ms. Lu, who works in a foreign trade company, said that changing two pairs of chopsticks is troublesome and easy to confuse. "I have used chopsticks for more than 30 years. It seems that public chopsticks are rarely seen on the dining table. People around me don't have this habit, and they are easy to forget even if they are used."
Mr. Xie, who works in the media, has no habit of using public chopsticks, which is inconvenient to use. But he agrees with the practice of using public chopsticks from the bottom of his heart: "This is a manifestation of the progress of social civilization. If someone at the same table proposes it, I will definitely accept it, and I won't be disgusted... but I would not take the initiative to think of it."
Citizen Mr. Mi said that when he went to a relative’s house for dinner, he was very moved when he saw that they were also using public chopsticks in their own home. He believed that this is a good hygiene habit and is good for health, and he agrees. But he also said frankly that if everyone gathers together, he is probably not as embarrassed to mention it. If someone proposes to use it, he will definitely respond: "It should be because you are not used to it."
Traditional mischief
Knowing that public chopsticks are good, I don't want to take the initiative
Although Mr. Citizen Mi recognizes the use of public chopsticks, he believes that in the traditional Chinese food culture, for thousands of years, he has been used to a large table of people looking at each other without distinction. Unless everyone has a consensus, if you rashly remind others to use public chopsticks or spoons, it seems a bit rude, as if you dislike others for being unhygienic. Ms. Shi, who is engaged in the training industry, has the same opinion as Mr. Mi. She has never used public chopsticks, but she supports it.
Citizen Mr. Nie said that he has no habit of using public chopsticks when he eats with his family and friends. He believes that if he takes the initiative to use public chopsticks, his friends at the table will feel that you are out of place and a little "pretending." But if someone proposes it, he will definitely accept it. He also hopes that the atmosphere of using public chopsticks will be formed soon. "When a consensus is reached in the society, it will not be abrupt to propose to use public chopsticks." He suggested that the government can introduce relevant policies to promote it, but this process should be relatively long.
Reporters found in some restaurants in business districts such as Shin Kong Place and Daping Times Tianjie that the prevention and control procedures for waiters wearing masks and temperature measurement are all available, but they did not provide public chopsticks. In some restaurants, the public chopsticks and private chopsticks are exactly the same, and it is difficult to distinguish between eating and eating, especially after the diners drink alcohol, the public chopsticks are basically displayed.
The manager of a roast duck restaurant in Times Tianjie said that in fact, every table used to have chopsticks twice as many as the actual number of people as public chopsticks, but most of the diners did not use them, and some even called the waiter to "take the extra chopsticks away." ". With more such times, the store will naturally no longer stock "excess" chopsticks.
Use public chopsticks, rely on consciousness
Public chopsticks products
Sales doubled after the outbreak
In fact, many people in life have gradually accepted public chopsticks.
Enter "public chopsticks" on Taobao, and a large number of related products will appear. There are many slogans on the product store page that "a pair of public chopsticks are always healthy" and "use public chopsticks for picking dishes". Ten pairs of chopsticks with the "public chopsticks" logo are priced at around ten to twenty yuan. They have obvious marks and have increased length for easy identification at a glance.
From the sales records of an online store in Lishui, Zhejiang, we can see that there have been more than 1,000 orders since February this year, while there were only more than 100 in the previous year. The shop owner, Mr. Zhao, said that after the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, everyone’s awareness of the use of public chopsticks has increased significantly. This kind of highly recognizable public chopsticks is more often purchased by individuals. There are also restaurants that place orders for them. The restaurant logo is currently more popular.
And in the sales reviews, you can see many affirmations that the use of public chopsticks is good for health. "I have already bought a set for my family. Everyone agrees and plans to buy more for foreign friends as gifts."
Retired elderly
Even two people use public chopsticks at home
Ji Wei, a retired old man who lives in Yubei Yuelai, is engaged in the convention and exhibition industry at home. Even if he eats with his wife, he must use public chopsticks. When he was gathering outside with his family and old colleagues, he even offered to use public chopsticks. He believes that this new crown epidemic has a great impact on the entire human society, and we must use this matter to make more positive changes in our lives.
Ji Wei said that you should boldly propose to use public chopsticks when eating, and you should not dare to say it because of your face. "Using public chopsticks is to protect you and me, to reflect true respect and care, and it is also a sign of the progress of the times."
"We old people can do it, and young people should accept this good habit!"
Whenever relatives and friends come to the house as guests, wife Li will prepare a pair of serving chopsticks for each guest.
The reporter found in the interview that some catering companies have introduced chopsticks of different colors, patterns, and lengths to facilitate the distinction between public and private chopsticks.
Talk about the benefits and on the implementation
Xia Taifu, director of the Department of Gastroenterology, Chongqing Xinou Hospital, introduced that the use of public chopsticks can prevent diseases transmitted by the digestive tract, which can protect oneself and others. "Common bacteria transmitted through the digestive tract, such as Helicobacter pylori, can induce peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and other diseases, and are present in the dental plaque and saliva of the infected person. Without meals, the saliva of the diners is private If the chopsticks directly contact the food, these foods are likely to be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, and then sent to the mouth through other people's private chopsticks, causing cross-infection and increasing the risk of disease infection. In this way, the chopsticks become the transmission vector of the pathogen." Xia Taifu In addition to bacteria, using public chopsticks can also avoid some viral infections, such as hepatitis A and hepatitis E.
Experts believe that the use of public chopsticks and spoons is clean and hygienic, which can prevent personal tableware from contacting public food during shared meals, reduce the contamination of dishes, and reduce the risk of illness from the mouth, especially to reduce gastric Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis A virus and other foods. The spread of source pathogens. During the epidemic, avoiding mixing tableware can also reduce the risk of virus transmission to a certain extent.
Statistics from the World Health Organization show that saliva is one of the main ways for the spread of diseases. Many diseases are spread and spread quietly by picking up dishes and making public and private chopsticks. Data shows that China is a country with a high incidence of gastric cancer, and the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in adults is as high as 60%.
Catering Association
There are ways to implement "double chopsticks"
In fact, as early as March this year, the Catering Chamber of the Chongqing Federation of Industry and Commerce issued a proposal to use public chopsticks and spoons, advocating a new concept of civilized dining. "The new crown pneumonia epidemic has sounded a wake-up call to our usual habits." Yan Qi, vice chairman of the Chongqing Federation of Industry and Commerce and chairman of the Catering Chamber of Commerce, said that it is very necessary to implement "double chopsticks" at all levels. "Using public chopsticks and spoons can help people develop the habit of taking meals and eating on demand. If you have not finished eating out, you can pack them home with confidence. While reducing waste, it also cultivates people's good environmental and conservation habits. "
Yan Qi believes that all catering companies should take the initiative to provide diners with public chopsticks and spoons, and the color should be clearly different from the chopsticks used by diners to avoid confusion. At the same time, prompt signs and slogans should be set up to require service staff to remind and guide diners to use. Public chopsticks and spoons, standardize the term "double chopsticks" and the standard of placement. In particular, catering companies such as hot pots should be leaders in the use of public chopsticks and spoons.
She suggested that, in addition to the efforts of the catering industry and catering chambers, the government should also increase the promotion of the "double chopsticks" system and include it as a necessary element of the service of catering companies, such as imposing taxes on the increased costs of implementing "double chopsticks" for catering companies The pre-installation deduction helps companies reduce pressure and prevent some companies from resorting to fraud in order to reduce costs. At the same time, the society must work together to form a social consensus and mobilize the whole people to actively participate.
Chongqing Morning News·Upstream News Reporter Ji Wenling