The Goldfish wrote:(Carpo that is) Yeah, I know you said respond off-list, but I'll get on topic here in a second: Stick with the wooden ones. We use wooden chopsticks over and over just as we use wooden cutting boards for all of our food and chiles that need slicked or diced. Wood stuff is very much more bacteria-free than plastic or metal. The wood was alive once and retains natural anti-biotics that kill off all sorts of nasty little buggers. ****************************************************** Wisht I had that audio clipt I onct herd on this topic, Wood I did hear has a natural bacteria which overnight kills most Bugs.. Most Butchers blocks used to be Teak, some are still treasured here in Oz, also I aint seen any Sate sticks that are plastic or metal in the soopers yet.. My cutting boards are 1 Aussie Rosewood 1 Chinese Pine 1 Baltic Pine All oilX-Mozilla-Status: 0009and washed after use, (well washed after cutting Chiles on some if not all occasions) <G>.. (On topic thread included in last line) Luke in Oz