Source: Qianjiang Evening News
From January 1 this year, according to the requirements of the "Implementation Measures on Further Strengthening the Control of Plastic Pollution", the catering industry in Zhejiang Province prohibits the use of non-degradable disposable plastic straws, and the use of non-degradable disposable plastic tableware is prohibited in the catering and dine-in services of built-up areas and scenic spots above the county.
Quietly, all the milk tea shops and fast food restaurants have replaced them with paper straws or degradable plastic straws.
However, the paper straws that are "just out of the world" are frequently on the hot search because they are complained about.
Some say that paper straws taste very bad, like eating toilet paper, and they will be soaked soft.
Some say that because paper straws are fragile, they sometimes blend in with desserts.
Some netizens said that thanks to the paper straw, she quit milk tea and also quit the problem of biting the straw.
Well, the paper straw really and netizens
Is it as vulnerable as that? Today (January 14), the hourly reporter also tried to do several experiments.
Room temperature water absorption experiment:
It is true that there is water absorption, but the amount is really not large
The reporter purchased a bag of paper straws from the online business platform, a pack of 50 kraft paper straws, generally 10-15 yuan.
The first thing in hand, the reporter cut open a straw and found that a paper straw was divided into three layers, the outer layer was log colored, and the inner two layers were white, which were superimposed in a spiral shape.
According to the packaging, the material of the paper straw is virgin wood pulp paper, and the use temperature is 0-45 ° C.
The first experiment the reporter did was a room temperature water absorption experiment, we transferred two glass bottles, into an equal amount of tap water, one of which inserted 10 paper straws, the other bottle did not do any processing.
After 15 hours, the reporter took out the straw and found that the water surface had dropped significantly by 2-3 mm.
The reporter took out one of the straws and found that it was divided into three states. Among them, the part that has been submerged in the water has been completely softened, and there is obviously a color change after water absorption, which is deformed by a pinch; the middle is about 8 cm, there is also a water absorption phenomenon, but the color change is not obvious; the top is about 3-4 cm, not invaded by water, and still maintains its original state.
From this experiment, we can see that the paper straw does have a water absorption phenomenon, but because the material has good water resistance, while the water capacity is limited, the amount of water absorption is not large, so netizens will not drink less milk tea because of the use of paper straws.
High temperature water absorption experiment:
Some "fall apart", some "have always stood firm"
Subsequently, the reporter went to the nearby milk tea shop and found that in addition to a little bit, cuo nei Xiao family village used a biodegradable plastic straw, McDonald's canceled the straw, most of the drink shops have used paper straws.
After searching for paper straws in some stores, we conducted a second experiment: a high-temperature water absorption experiment.
Due to the limitations on the mouth of the test glass, we eventually used straws purchased from Starbucks, KFC, Chabaidao, Kasamier, and online merchant platforms.
In this experiment, we filled a glass with hot water of about 85 ° C and inserted five paper straws into it at the same time.
In 10 minutes, the straw purchased by the online business platform and the bottom of The Charmey appeared obviously delaminated, and the outermost layer had floated up.
In 20 minutes, it can already be clearly seen that the paper straw of KeshaMier uses a 4-layer paper structure, while the paper straw purchased by the online business platform is a three-layer structure, and the structure has "fallen apart". At the mouth of the bottle, we also saw that KFC's straw absorbs water the fastest, and the water absorption line has exceeded the bottle mouth.
After 30 minutes, we took out five straws.
The results showed that the paper straws purchased by Keshamier and the online business platform had been completely layered, and the layering phenomenon exceeded the waterline, close to half the length of the straw; among the five straws, KFC's straw suction line was the highest, and the straws of Starbucks and KFC had obvious softening. The straw of ChaBaidao has hardly changed at all, and it has been left for about 2 minutes after dehydration, and even becomes much drier.
After removing the straw, the reporter also tried to drink a sip of hot water that had been soaked in the paper straw for 30 minutes, and there was no obvious paper smell.
So why do paper straws absorb water and soften? How long should a drink using a paper straw be drunk...
Regarding the various problems of paper straws, the reporter consulted the straw producer purchased by the online business platform - Manager Chen, the person in charge of quality control of Yiwu Shuangtong Daily Necessities Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Shuangtong).
Is the paper straw soft because it absorbs water?
Manager Chen said that the paper of the paper straw is made of cellulosic wood pulp, which is a hydrophilic raw material that is soaked in water for a long time and will indeed adsorb some water. "But spreading out and softening also involves process and glue, not a single problem."
Yes, there is also glue in the paper straw.
To make a paper straw, you need to use several layers of paper, and the paper room is glued with glue. For example, some of the paper straws produced by double children have a total of 4 layers of paper, which are thicker, harder, and better poked into the milk tea.
"The glue we use is food grade and doesn't cause harm to the body." Manager Chen revealed that the national standard for food-grade glue is currently being drafted.
The bigger question for glue is: How high can it withstand?
Depending on the process and material used, the temperature that the straw can withstand varies. Once the temperature is too high, the molecular structure of the glue will change, and after losing its viscosity, the straw will naturally disperse.
Manager Chen said frankly: "It is not good to disperse, this is a defect of product function." ”
At present, there are straws on the market that can withstand up to 45 degrees Celsius, and the straws produced by twin children have reached 85 degrees Celsius. Even so, Manager Chen recommends that everyone drink it in 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Manager Jiang, the head of the domestic market of Twin Boys, mentioned: "In fact, we will also look at the online complaints to see how to improve the straw." ”
After the ban on plastic bags, the sales of paper straws have indeed increased. Restaurants, milk tea shops, and supermarkets have all placed orders, and production has been scheduled until April this year.
Even stainless steel and glass straws are selling better, Manager Jiang said: "Sales have not risen much, mainly coffee shops, bars, homes, these fixed yards need all needs, after all, cleaning and carrying is a problem." ”
Source: Qianjiang Evening News Hourly News Reporter Sheng Rui Trainee Reporter Chen Xinyi